Extensive analysis of the software security vunerabilities that exist within the Java software execution environment (Master of Software Engineering)

Abstract

Software applications and systems are the backbone of most services in our lives, which makes software security a critical concern to users and organizations. Achieving the maximum level of security is crucial when developing software applications. To achieve such security, software developers must be aware of the potential security vulnerabilities within the software programming languages they use. Many programming languages suffer from major security vulnerabilities such as C and C++, which are known for buffer overflow vulnerabilities. Java on the other hand is known for its immunity against such traditional security vulnerabilities. Even though Java provides a higher level of security than other programming languages, it still suffers from potential security vulnerabilities. This document illustrates some of the potential security vulnerabilities within the Java software execution environment. Security vulnerabilities are illustrated through sample code and discussions. The document also proposes mitigations for the corresponding security vulnerabilities.