CVE-2009-3874 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the JPEGImageReader implementation in the ImageI/O component 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 execute arbitrary code via large subsample dimensions in a JPEG file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow, aka Bug Id 6874643.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3874 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the JPEGImageReader component of Sun Java SE's ImageI/O framework. This issue affects multiple versions of the Java Development Kit and Java Runtime Environment, specifically targeting 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. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation when processing JPEG image files, particularly those containing large subsample dimensions that trigger heap-based buffer overflows during image decoding operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer overflow condition that occurs when the JPEGImageReader processes subsample dimensions within JPEG files. When attackers craft malicious JPEG images with excessively large subsample values, the application's internal arithmetic operations overflow integer variables, leading to incorrect buffer size calculations. This overflow results in heap-based buffer overflows where the application attempts to allocate memory regions that are either too small or too large, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability operates at the boundary between legitimate image processing operations and malicious input manipulation, where normal JPEG parsing routines fail to properly validate dimensional parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized control over systems running vulnerable Java versions. Attackers can exploit this flaw by delivering specially crafted JPEG files through web applications, email attachments, or other delivery mechanisms that trigger the vulnerable ImageI/O component during image processing. The attack surface is particularly broad since many web applications and services utilize Java's built-in image processing capabilities, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Java applications handle user-uploaded content. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite heap memory.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability encompass multiple layers of security controls and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Java versions to the latest available updates, specifically targeting the patches released for JDK and JRE versions mentioned in the vulnerability description. System administrators should implement network-level controls to filter potentially malicious image files, particularly those with unusual dimensional parameters or file extensions. The implementation of input validation controls at application boundaries can help prevent the processing of malformed JPEG files before they reach the vulnerable ImageI/O component. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual image processing activities or memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation through exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities, making it particularly relevant for defensive security operations that focus on preventing remote code execution through application-level flaws. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special privileges on the target system, making it a particularly attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to vulnerable environments.