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Java Update Implements Whitelists To Combat 0-Day Hacks
kylus writes "The Register is reporting that Oracle's new Java 7 update 40 release comes complete with a new 'Deployment Rule Set' capability which allows administrators to define which particular applets and Java Web Start applications ('Rich Internet Applications') are permitted to run on a given machine. Not a complete solution for the recent trend of Java hacks that have cropped up, but good news for enterprises that have to run this in their environment."
Update: 09/19 20:08 GMT by U L : There's an introduction to deploying rule sets on the Java platform group weblog too.
Like it or not, a lot of crap line-of-business/enterprise software still uses old, hacked-together garbage applets, and they need to be supported.
There's quite a few games out there written as applets too (e.g. Minecraft, the Jin Chess Client), and speaking for myself, I want to run one or two of them without feeling like I'm holidaying in Baghdad.
As I said at the end of the summary, this really isn't a complete solution and you're right about a whitelisted applet/RIA being vulnerable. However this is a good piece of 'defense in depth' to prevent random Java crap from executing without authorization if (when) another bug crops and is somehow exploited. If the stuff you're whitelisting has problems, you need to revisit your coding quality checks, or talk to whatever vendor is supplying it to you.
--Kylus
Idiot-proof something, and Life will build a better Idiot.
No everyone has not. There are a great many enterprise apps that companies rely on that need this. Normal users will not know to turn it on, nor to turn it off.
Finally, an admission that they'll never be able to make it secure, that blacklisting everything by default is the only way forward.
No sig today...
I'd recommend installing a better firewall instead.