CVE-2009-3873 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
The JPEG Image Writer in Sun Java SE in JDK and JRE 5.0 before Update 22, JDK and JRE 6 before Update 17, and SDK and JRE 1.4.x before 1.4.2_24 allows remote attackers to gain privileges via a crafted image file, related to a "quantization problem," aka Bug Id 6862968.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3873 represents a critical privilege escalation issue within the JPEG image processing functionality of Sun Java SE implementations. This flaw exists in multiple Java runtime environments including JDK and JRE versions 5.0 through Update 22, JRE 6 through Update 17, and SDK and JRE 1.4.x through version 1.4.2_24. The vulnerability specifically affects the JPEG Image Writer component which is responsible for processing and writing JPEG image files, making it a potential vector for remote code execution attacks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from a quantization problem within the JPEG compression algorithm implementation. Quantization is a crucial step in JPEG compression where image data is reduced in precision to achieve compression. The flaw occurs when the JPEG writer processes malformed or specially crafted image files that contain maliciously constructed quantization tables. These tables can trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions during the image processing pipeline, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Java runtime environment. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue in the image processing code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to execute code on systems running vulnerable Java versions without requiring authentication or user interaction. Attackers can craft malicious JPEG files that, when processed by the vulnerable Java runtime, trigger the privilege escalation. This could occur during normal image loading operations in web applications, desktop applications, or any system that processes JPEG images through the affected Java libraries. The attack surface is extensive given Java's widespread deployment across web servers, desktop applications, and enterprise systems. The vulnerability essentially provides a pathway for attackers to bypass system security controls and gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. According to ATT&CK framework, this maps to technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Java installations to the latest available updates. Organizations should prioritize updating all systems running vulnerable Java versions to the patched releases that address the quantization table processing issue. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit exposure by restricting access to systems that process untrusted image files. Application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques should be employed to restrict the execution environment of Java applications. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious image processing activities and potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary image processing functionality and implementing strict input validation for all image files processed by Java applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing libraries, emphasizing the need for robust security testing of image handling components in runtime environments.