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Brian Krebs

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  • 27
    Apr 12

    Correction to Java Update Story

    An earlier version of this blog post incorrectly stated that Oracle had shipped security updates for its Java software. Oracle did push out an update for Java earlier this month — Java 6 Update 32 — but the new version was a maintenance update that did not include security fixes. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused.

    Related Posts:
    • Oracle Ships Critical Security Update for Java
    • Java Security Update Scrubs 14 Flaws
    • Java Update Clobbers 29 Security Flaws
    • Java 6 Update 24 Plugs 21 Security Holes
    • Critical Java Update Fixes 20 Flaws

    Tags: apple, Flashback Trojan, java, Java 6 Update 32, Java 7 Update 4, mac os x, Oracle

    This entry was posted on Friday, April 27th, 2012 at 1:33 pm and is filed under Latest Warnings, Time to Patch. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

    15 comments

    1. GL
      April 27, 2012 at 2:02 pm

      Hello! Java NOT included in this CPU.

    2. BrOuhaha
      April 27, 2012 at 2:07 pm

      In my Chrome browser, a check on the link above yields: “You have the recommended Java installed (Version 6 Update 31)”

      Also, there is no “Preferences” in my toolbox. Please clarify.

      • BrianKrebs
        April 27, 2012 at 2:37 pm

        Oh right. You’re using Chrome on Windows, then, yeah?

        In Chrome on Windows, click the wrench, then Settings, then search for Java. If you have the plugin installed, you should be able to find it from there.

        • Jason
          April 27, 2012 at 7:37 pm

          I think you have to use about:plugins in the address bar to find the Java version (and to disable it) in Chrome in Windows, at least that’s how I do it for the version I’m using.

    3. nichol price
      April 27, 2012 at 2:15 pm

      Hi,
      I was wondering if using a sandboxing system like Sandboxie on Windows XP/7 would really open me to java exploits?
      Everytime I close one wedsurfing session and open another, sandboxie clears the sandbox. I also sandbox any and all PDF views.

      I sandbox, run noscript in firefox, and have absolutely NO antivirus installed. I’m *thrilled* with this setup, but am concerned I am being too lax.

      • JCitizen
        May 1, 2012 at 12:42 am

        “too lax”? – As long as you don’t bank or shop online, and use limited accounts for daily web work; you might get away with it. I’d backup anything important though – bear in mind you will be backing up any hidden malware also.

        CCleaner can be your friend!

    4. Tim
      April 27, 2012 at 2:15 pm

      Are you sure about this Brian?

      The advisory that you link to discusses the quarterly patch update released about 10 days ago. These all concern patches for the core database products, Peoplesoft…etc. there was no JRE update in that bundle.

      The release notes for v6u32 are here:

      http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/2col/6u32bugfixes-1579554.html

      …and I can find no reference to critical security issues patched by this release.

    5. Greg Sergienko
      April 27, 2012 at 2:26 pm

      At this point, Firefox has automatically disabled my Java as outdated, but my Mac software update hasn’t given me a download yet. I’m not too happy with the Apple people on this.

    6. Someone
      April 27, 2012 at 2:35 pm

      Why not suggest disabling _all_ plugins in your everyday browser? Java isn’t the only culprit. Adobe Flash comes to mind.

      On my Linux setup I run various browsers as fictive users, so at least attackers won’t get access to my files unless they exploit a root vulnerability.

    7. John Cali
      April 27, 2012 at 3:15 pm

      Thanks very much, Brian for this. I downloaded NotScripts for Google Chrome. Despite their detailed instructions on how to set your password, I could not figure it out — even after 8 or 10 attempts.

      • maubs
        April 30, 2012 at 9:34 am

        You just need to find the password file and fill in a password with a text editor. It’s an annoyance, but pretty easy to do. The hardest part is locating the file.

        • JCitizen
          May 1, 2012 at 12:50 am

          After each update too – as I understand it.

    8. JimV
      April 27, 2012 at 3:25 pm

      I haven’t used or needed Java6 in a long time. Filehippo identified Java 7 update 4 as the upgrade needed on my various Windows machines, with a 64-bit version in addition to a 32-bit version. I downloaded both versions from FH and after uninstalling the JRE7u3 version from each machine, installed JRE7u4 without any issues on my various XP Pro, Vista Home Premium/Ultimate 32-bit and Win7 Pro 64-bit machines.

      Of course, as usual afterwards I had to disable the automatic update toggle Java sets by default in Control Panel applet, as well as untoggling the version it places in startup functions when examined in msconfig — this despite unchecking the query to approve automatic updates when the installation program first runs.

      I also checked the task scheduler to see if it had placed an entry there, but found none — so it doesn’t behave quite as badly as Google’s updater but still irritates greatly by ignoring the user-choice instruction during the installation process.

    9. PC.Tech
      April 27, 2012 at 3:29 pm

      This should help clear things up a bit:

      - http://h-online.com/-1562140
      27 April 2012

      .

    10. Marc Harmon
      April 28, 2012 at 1:39 pm

      If you have Java 6 Update 31 then this Sun/Oracle page

      http://java.com/en/download/testjava.jsp

      says you have the latest. Its not the latest, of course, but apparently to Oracle its good enough. This java.com download page

      http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

      also says that update 31 is the latest. As for Java 6 vs. 7, version 6 goes off maintenance in November 2012.

      There are download links for Java 6 update 32 and Java 7 update 4 here

      http://javatester.org/version.html