CVE-2008-1194 in Java JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the color management library in Sun JDK and JRE 6 Update 4 and earlier, and 5.0 Update 14 and earlier, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1194 affects the color management library component within Sun Java Development Kit and Java Runtime Environment versions up to specific update releases. This issue resides within the core color management functionality that handles color space conversions and profile management for java applications. The vulnerability is classified as a denial of service condition that can be triggered remotely through unspecified attack vectors, making it particularly concerning for networked environments where java applications process external data. The affected versions include JDK and JRE 6 Update 4 and earlier, as well as JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 14 and earlier, indicating a broad impact across multiple java runtime versions. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple code paths within the color management library could potentially be exploited to trigger the crash condition.
The technical flaw manifests within the color management library implementation where improper handling of certain color profile data or conversion operations can lead to memory corruption or invalid state conditions. When malicious or malformed color data is processed through the affected java runtime components, the library fails to properly validate input parameters or handle edge cases in color space transformations. This can result in segmentation faults, heap corruption, or other critical runtime errors that cause the java virtual machine to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the java runtime environment where color management operations are performed, making it difficult to predict exactly which color profile formats or operations will trigger the condition. The lack of specific details about the exact vectors makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against without comprehensive patching.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-1194 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire java-based applications and systems that rely on color management functionality. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause denial of service attacks against java applications that process external color data, such as web applications serving images or graphics content, desktop applications handling color profiles, or server applications processing color-managed files. The vulnerability affects both client-side and server-side java applications, creating potential for widespread disruption in environments where java applications are deployed. Organizations running java-based services that process color data from untrusted sources face significant risk of service interruption, particularly in scenarios where applications might process images from web sources or handle user-uploaded graphics files. The vulnerability can be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where java applications form critical components of business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1194 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected java runtime environments to the latest available updates that address the color management library flaws. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected JDK and JRE installations to versions that include fixes for this vulnerability, with particular attention to the specific update releases that resolved the color management issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of java applications to untrusted data sources, particularly those handling color profile information. Organizations should also consider implementing input validation measures for any color data processed by java applications, although this approach may not fully mitigate the vulnerability given its low-level nature within the runtime library. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses improper access to memory, and represents a potential entry point for broader exploitation attempts through the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service tactics. Regular monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify any remaining unpatched systems, as this vulnerability could potentially be leveraged in combination with other exploits to achieve more severe outcomes than simple denial of service.