Update Release Notes
Java™ SE Development Kit 7, Update 15 (JDK 7u15)
The full version string for this update release is 1.7.0_15-b03 (where "b" means "build") and the version number is 7u15.
JDK 7u15 contains Olson time zone data version 2012i. For more information, refer to Timezone Data Versions in the JRE Software.
The security baselines for the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) at the time of the release of JDK 7u15 are specified in the following table:
| JRE Family Version | JRE Security Baseline (Full Version String) |
|---|---|
| 7 | 1.7.0_15 |
| 6 | 1.6.0_41 |
| 5.0 | 1.5.0_40 |
| 1.4.2 | 1.4.2_42 |
For more information about security baselines, see Deploying Java Applets With Family JRE Versions in Java Plug-in for Internet Explorer.
Auto-update and update through Java Control Panel of JRE 6 will replace JRE 6 with JRE 7
Since JRE 6 has reached its End of Public Updates Oracle is taking steps to protect consumer desktops. We will not leave a version of Java installed for which we no longer provide security updates .
In order to do so, when updating from JRE 6, the update mechanism will not only install the latest version of JRE 7 but will also remove the highest version of JRE 6 on the system. This change will happen when the system is updated via the auto-update mechanism or by checking for updates directly from the Java Control Panel.
Users who need to keep a version of JRE 6 in their systems can do so by manually installing the latest version of JRE 7 rather than relying on auto-update or updates through the Java Control Panel.
If JRE 6 has already been removed from a system, but the user would like to restore it, earlier versions of Java can be accessed from the Java Archive.
Note that Oracle strongly recommends leaving only up-to-date versions of the JRE on desktops. Retaining an older version of the JRE in your systems should only be done by expert users or enterprise administrators with a need for those earlier versions and an understanding of the associated risks.
Classic (Plug-in 1) Java Plug-in not Supported
When a user deselects the Next-generation plug-in (from JDK 6u10) option that is displayed in the Java Control Panel(JCP), an older(classic) plug-in will be chosen automatically. This classic Plug-in (also referred to as Plug-in 1) is not supported in the latest releases of JDK 7.
- The classic Plug-in is not supported or tested
- The classic Plug-in is not secure
- The classic Plug-in does not respect the security levels defined in the new JCP security slider
The classic Plug-in is deprecated and will not be available in future Java SE platform releases.
This release contains fixes for security vulnerabilities. For more information, see Oracle Java SE Critical Patch Update Advisory.