The Java Native Interface (JNI) is a standard programming interface for writing Java native methods and embedding the Java virtual machine (JVM) into native applications. The JNI allows developers to access native code and leverage the performance benefits of native libraries, while also providing a level of abstraction and platform independence. However, the JNI also introduces a range of security risks, including the potential for buffer overflows, dangling pointers, and other memory-related vulnerabilities.