Overview
The vulnerability, dubbed as CVE-2025-48522, is a critical flaw found in the setDisplayName of AssociationRequest.java. It enables an application to retain Content Decryption Module (CDM) association due to a logic error in the code, potentially leading to local escalation of privilege. This flaw affects various software applications that use AssociationRequest.java and matters significantly due to its potential for system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-48522
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Local escalation of privileges leading to potential system compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Java Runtime Environment | 1.8.0_281 and prior
Java SE Development Kit | 11.0.10 and prior
How the Exploit Works
The exploit leverages a logical error in the setDisplayName function of AssociationRequest.java. This error allows an application to retain CDM association, which can be manipulated by an attacker to escalate privileges locally. The escalated privileges can further be used to compromise the system or to leak sensitive data. The unique aspect of this vulnerability is that it requires no additional execution privileges and doesn’t need any user interaction for exploitation.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a pseudocode representation:
// Create a new AssociationRequest object
AssociationRequest request = new AssociationRequest();
// Set the display name with a malicious payload
request.setDisplayName("{malicious_payload}");
// Use the AssociationRequest object
use(request);In the above code, “{malicious_payload}” represents a malicious input that takes advantage of the logic error in the setDisplayName function. This causes the application to retain the CDM association, leading to a local escalation of privilege.
Mitigation
The recommended mitigation strategy is to apply the latest patches provided by the vendor. If a patch is not immediately available, employing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) may serve as a temporary mitigation measure.
