CVE-2009-3868 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Sun Java SE in JDK and JRE 5.0 before Update 22, JDK and JRE 6 before Update 17, SDK and JRE 1.3.x before 1.3.1_27, and SDK and JRE 1.4.x before 1.4.2_24 does not properly parse color profiles, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted image file, aka Bug Id 6862970.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2025
This vulnerability exists in multiple versions of Sun Java SE including JDK and JRE 5.0 through 6.0, as well as older SDK and JRE versions 1.3.x and 1.4.x. The flaw resides in the improper parsing of color profiles within image files, creating a privilege escalation vector that can be exploited remotely. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read error, where the Java runtime environment fails to properly validate color profile data during image processing operations. Attackers can craft malicious image files containing specially formatted color profiles that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions when processed by the vulnerable Java runtime.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Java Image I/O framework's handling of color management information embedded in image files. When the Java runtime processes an image containing a malformed color profile, the parsing logic does not adequately validate the profile structure or size constraints, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Java application. This issue affects the standard Java runtime environment and can be triggered through various image formats that support color profiles such as png, tiff, and jpeg files. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond opening or processing the malicious image file, making it a classic remote code execution vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3868 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise when exploited in web applications or email clients that process images automatically. Attackers can craft malicious image files that, when viewed or processed by vulnerable Java applications, will execute arbitrary code on the target system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The affected systems include any environment running vulnerable Java versions, particularly web servers, desktop applications, and email clients that utilize Java for image processing functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of all affected Java installations to the latest available updates, which address the color profile parsing issues through enhanced input validation and memory bounds checking. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while also deploying application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of Java applications that process untrusted image content. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual image processing activities or attempts to access system resources through Java applications. Additionally, administrators should consider disabling Java plugin execution in web browsers and implementing content filtering to prevent automatic processing of potentially malicious image files, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted image content.