Oracle Updates Java 7 to Address Security Vulnerability

MacRumors · Jan 14, 2013

On Friday, we noted that Apple had taken the rare step of using its anti-malware tools in OS X to disable existing installations of the Java 7 browser plug-in due to a major security vulnerability that was being actively exploited in the wild. Apple's anti-malware system is capable of enforcing minimum version numbers for plug-ins such as Java and Flash, and Apple simply updated its blacklist information to require that machines be running a higher version of the Java 7 plug-in than was publicly available.

Oracle has now released Java 7 Update 11, and the release notes indicate that it does indeed address the vulnerability. The new release registers with a version string of 1.7.0_11-b21, satisfying Apple's requirement for a minimum version number of 1.7.0_10-b19.

In addition to the fix for the vulnerability, Java 7 Update 11 also sees a change in the default security level setting from "Medium" to "High". Under the new setting, users will be warned before the Java plug-in runs any unsigned application.

The default security level for Java applets and web start applications has been increased from "Medium" to "High". This affects the conditions under which unsigned (sandboxed) Java web applications can run. Previously, as long as you had the latest secure Java release installed applets and web start applications would continue to run as always. With the "High" setting the user is always warned before any unsigned application is run to prevent silent exploitation.

Article Link: Oracle Updates Java 7 to Address Security Vulnerability

hamkor04 · Jan 14, 2013

"Medium" to "High" isn't it awesome?

Shrink · Jan 14, 2013

Sorry for the dumb question...I have "Enable Java" UNCHECKED in Safari Preferences, and intend to leave it that way.

Should I download the Java Update anyway?

Thanks...

iMikeT · Jan 14, 2013

The internet is safe once again!

RMo · Jan 14, 2013

Shrink said:
Sorry foe the dumb question...I have "Enable Java" UNCHECKED in Safari Preferences, and intend to leave it that way.

Should I download the Java Update anyway?

Thanks...

Yes. You should either do that or uninstall Java completely, but there's no sense in leaving outdated, vulnerable, exploited-in-the-wild software on your machine, even if you have no plans to use it right now. (What if you try another browser in the future and forget about this?)

bwillwall said:
No, it can't access your system if you don't use it or even have it enabled.

Unchecking a preference in Safari does not mean it is "disabled" on your entire system. Leave it unchecked if you want, but at least fix the problem (or get rid of it).

jent · Jan 14, 2013

Since Java updates are no longer built into OS X, how do I update Java?

mathcolo · Jan 14, 2013

jent said:
Since Java updates are no longer built into OS X, how do I update Java?

If you already have Java 7 installed, head to System Preferences -> Java -> and then go to the Update tab in the control panel.

Note that if the updater is broken, see this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1525000/

Edit: For those who still only have Java SE 6 installed, head to http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html to download v7.

Sweetfeld28 · Jan 14, 2013

Do you have the Java System Pref?

All updates run through that on my computer.

Lone Deranger · Jan 14, 2013

Why is it so often Java that appears to get caught out in these security vulnerabilities?

iMikeT · Jan 14, 2013

Lone Deranger said:
Why is it so often Java that appears to get caught out in these security vulnerabilities?

Like Windows, it's widely used. It's about making the most amount of damage to the most amount of users.

Dansk · Jan 14, 2013

Lone Deranger said:
Why is it so often Java that appears to get caught out in these security vulnerabilities?

Plus1 ?

edit I got tree'd

iMikeT said:
Like Windows, it's widely used. It's about making the most amount of damage to the most amount of users.

thanks

clukas · Jan 14, 2013

could someone please clarify this for me.

I dont have java in system preferences. I know I am running java as I am using Adobe CS6. I have disabled java in safari.

Am I still at risk, how should I update?

Butler Trumpet · Jan 14, 2013

Chrome?

Would anyone care to explain how this effects Chrome users? (Chrome is still 32 bit and this update is only for 64 bit browsers)

johncrab · Jan 14, 2013

A pretty fast fix and from what I have read, a rather thorough one. This leaves the question of why it took so long to discover and deal with the messy version they pushed out during the summer. Apple's use of the kill switch was a little worrying in a way but protected the whole Mac community. All things considered, a pretty good weekend.

Avatarshark · Jan 14, 2013

I think with most system built in software like Java it should be delivered via App Store if you are updated with app store, but I am not seeing it.

Weaselboy · Jan 14, 2013

Avatarshark said:
I think with most system built in software like Java it should be delivered via App Store if you are updated with app store, but I am not seeing it.

It won't come through the App Store since it is coming direct from Oracle. You will need to check for the update in the System Preferences Java pane.

bwillwall · Jan 14, 2013

Shrink said:
Sorry for the dumb question...I have "Enable Java" UNCHECKED in Safari Preferences, and intend to leave it that way.

Should I download the Java Update anyway?

Thanks...

No, it can't access your system if you don't use it or even have it enabled.

Philscbx · Jan 14, 2013

clukas said:
I dont have java in system preferences.
I have disabled java in safari.

how should I update?

I have the same set up - apparently there are some of us on 10.6.8 where JAVA is not shown in System Pref -
so the answers are going to be vague where it is.

A quick scan found mine in Utilities - It is titled Java Preferences.

The version on file shown is Java SE6 -ver 13.8.5. / and was last opened Oct 21,12.
The system must have messed with it - because I never do.

I scanned the 4 tabs - there is no specific labeled 'update tab' -
so I don't know where some are seeing this for fact.

We'll leave it at that.

canyelles · Jan 14, 2013

I'm confused

I have done the update and Java in System Preferences tells me I am using the latest version 7.

However when I type 'java -version' in terminal I get

java version "1.6.0_37"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_37-b06-434-11M3909)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.12-b01-434, mixed mode)

Can anyone explain?

Thanks

Weaselboy · Jan 14, 2013

canyelles said:
I'm confused

I have done the update and Java in System Preferences tells me I am using the latest version 7.

However when I type 'java -version' in terminal I get

java version "1.6.0_37"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_37-b06-434-11M3909)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.12-b01-434, mixed mode)

Can anyone explain?

Thanks

http://javatester.org/version.html

You are fine. The new version 7 you installed is just the web plugin. Go the above link and it should show 7.

The 'java -version' command just shows what version Java virtual machine you have installed. That is used to run local apps that run on Java. Different that Java web applets.

canyelles · Jan 14, 2013

Weaselboy said:
http://javatester.org/version.html

You are fine. The new version 7 you installed is just the web plugin. Go the above link and it should show 7.

The 'java -version' command just shows what version Java virtual machine you have installed. That is used to run local apps that run on Java. Different that Java web applets.

OK, thanks

rmwebs · Jan 14, 2013

For those struggling

Open system preferences. If you see a Java icon, the 'standalone' version of Oracle's Java is installed. Click that icon and it'll open up the java control panel. Check for updates and you'll get this:

Click update now. It'll guide you through the update and hey presto you're done. If you want to make sure it worked, go back to that Java control panel and check the version. It should show as Java 7 update 10.

If you dont have the java icon, you dont have Java installed. However some apps have it 'built in' - these will need to be updated by the app developer however likely wont be a problem.

Lone Deranger · Jan 14, 2013

iMikeT said:
Like Windows, it's widely used. It's about making the most amount of damage to the most amount of users.

Thanks. That makes sense.

mdmacfan · Jan 14, 2013

johncrab said:
A pretty fast fix and from what I have read, a rather thorough one. This leaves the question of why it took so long to discover and deal with the messy version they pushed out during the summer. Apple's use of the kill switch was a little worrying in a way but protected the whole Mac community. All things considered, a pretty good weekend.

It comes down to two things:

1. Oracle, as a corporation, has no incentive to fix security issues. It doesn't generate profit.
2. Taking a PR beating eventually provided enough incentive - it finally lit enough of a bonfire under their nuts to fix the issue.

BarryDuffman · Jan 14, 2013

Back when Apple decided to leave the support for Java to Oracle, I tried to install Oracles Java Runtime (don't remember which version it was)
But I found that for some reason suddenly Java required the use of the discrete graphics on my MBP.
Not thinking about the security impact, I uninstalled Java and reinstalled Apples most recent Java Runtime, and happily forgot about it.

Now with this vulnerability, I thought I better upgrade to the latest Java, but I can see that it is still forcing the discrete graphics to kick in.

-Why is that? I cannot see a reason for it.
-Is there a way to prevent it?

br
Barry

Oracle Updates Java 7 to Address Security Vulnerability

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