PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief
CVE-2016-5552 Oracle CVE debrief
CVE-2016-5552 is a medium-severity Oracle Java vulnerability first published on 2017-01-27. NVD describes it as an easily exploitable, network-accessible flaw in the Java SE networking component that can affect Java SE, Java SE Embedded, and JRockit. The stated impact is unauthorized update, insert, or delete access to some accessible data, with integrity impact rather than confidentiality or availability impact. Oracle’s description also notes that the issue can be reached through sandboxed Java Web Start applications and sandboxed Java applets, and via APIs exposed by the component.
- Vendor
- Oracle
- Product
- CVE-2016-5552
- CVSS
- MEDIUM 5.3
- CISA KEV
- Not listed in stored evidence
- Original CVE published
- 2017-01-27
- Original CVE updated
- 2026-05-13
- Advisory published
- 2017-01-27
- Advisory updated
- 2026-05-13
Who should care
Organizations still running affected Oracle Java 6, 7, or 8 builds, Java SE Embedded 8u111, or JRockit R28.3.12; teams that support legacy desktop Java, Java Web Start, applets, or network-facing Java services; and operators with third-party software that bundles these Java runtimes.
Technical summary
NVD maps the issue to CVSS 3.0 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N (5.3). The affected CPEs listed by NVD include Oracle JDK/JRE 1.6u131, 1.7u121, 1.8u111, 1.8u112, and JRockit R28.3.12. Oracle’s published description says the flaw is exploitable over the network via multiple protocols and may be triggered in sandboxed Java Web Start and applet contexts, or by supplying data to APIs in the component. NVD does not assign a specific CWE beyond NVD-CWE-noinfo.
Defensive priority
Medium. Prioritize systems that still run legacy Oracle Java or embedded/JRockit deployments, especially where Java is exposed to untrusted network input or where browser-delivered Java content is still enabled. Because the issue affects integrity and is network-reachable without authentication, remediation should be scheduled promptly for any in-scope system.
Recommended defensive actions
- Inventory hosts and applications for the exact Oracle Java/JRE/JDK/JRockit versions listed by NVD.
- Apply the Oracle CPU and any downstream vendor packages that address this CVE for your platform.
- Remove or disable Java Web Start and applet usage where not strictly required.
- Reduce exposure of Java services that accept untrusted network input or remote API calls.
- Plan retirement or replacement of legacy Java 6/7/8 and JRockit deployments that are no longer needed.
- Verify that endpoint, server, and embedded images do not contain vulnerable bundled Java runtimes.
- Monitor for unexpected data changes in applications that rely on affected Java components.
Evidence notes
Source evidence comes from the official CVE record and NVD detail. The CVE record says the vulnerability affects Oracle Java SE, Java SE Embedded, and JRockit networking components, with network access and multiple protocol reachability, and notes sandboxed Java Web Start and applet exploitation paths as well as API-based exposure. NVD lists the impacted CPEs for Java 6u131, 7u121, 8u111, 8u112, and JRockit R28.3.12, and records the CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N. NVD also includes Oracle CPU January 2017 and multiple downstream vendor advisories as references. No exploit code or unverified remediation claims are included.
Official resources
Publicly disclosed in the official CVE record on 2017-01-27. The supplied source snapshot was last modified on 2026-05-13, which is record maintenance timing and not the vulnerability date.