CVE-2010-0847 in JRE
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Java 2D component in Oracle Java SE and Java for Business 6 Update 18, 5.0 Update 23, 1.4.2_25, and 1.3.1_27 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors. NOTE: the previous information was obtained from the March 2010 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from a reliable researcher that this is a heap-based buffer overflow that allows arbitrary code execution via a crafted image.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0847 resides within the Java 2D component of Oracle Java SE and Java for Business platforms, affecting multiple version releases including Java 6 Update 18, Java 5.0 Update 23, and older versions. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that operates within the core graphics rendering capabilities of the Java runtime environment, specifically targeting the 2D graphics subsystem that handles image processing and rendering operations. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability initially raised concerns among security professionals, as it indicated a potential weakness that could be exploited through various attack vectors without clear definition of the specific mechanism involved. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow, as reported by credible researchers, indicates a fundamental memory management flaw that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the Java 2D component when processing specially crafted image files. When the Java runtime encounters malformed image data, the buffer overflow occurs in the heap memory allocation process, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious data. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The exploitation process typically involves creating a malicious image file that triggers the vulnerable code path during image decoding, potentially leading to complete system compromise when executed within a Java environment.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to organizations running affected Java versions, particularly those with web applications or systems that process untrusted image data from external sources. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access to target systems, making it especially dangerous for web-facing applications. The potential for arbitrary code execution combined with the ability to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability creates a comprehensive attack surface that can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, and service disruption. Organizations using older Java versions that have not received security updates remain particularly vulnerable, as the patching timeline for such critical vulnerabilities often lags behind the initial disclosure.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-0847 primarily focus on immediate patching and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest available Java versions that contain the security fixes for this vulnerability, with particular attention to the specific update releases mentioned in the advisory. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Java applications to untrusted input sources, while also deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting and sandboxing mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's alignment with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers application execution through scripting languages, indicates that exploitation may involve automated attack tools that leverage the Java runtime environment's capabilities to deliver malicious payloads. Security teams should also consider implementing regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify systems running outdated Java components that may still be vulnerable to this and similar heap-based buffer overflow attacks.