CVE-2010-3565 in Java
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the 2D component in Oracle Java SE and Java for Business 6 Update 21, 5.0 Update 25, and 1.4.2_27 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors. NOTE: the previous information was obtained from the October 2010 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from a reliable researcher that this is an integer overflow that triggers memory corruption via large values in a subsample of a JPEG image, related to JPEGImageWriter.writeImage in the imageio API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3565 represents a critical security flaw within Oracle Java SE and Java for Business implementations that affects multiple version streams including Java 6 Update 21, Java 5.0 Update 25, and Java 1.4.2_27. This weakness resides within the 2D component of the Java runtime environment and specifically impacts the imageio API functionality, particularly the JPEGImageWriter.writeImage method. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified initially suggests the complexity and severity of the underlying issue, which has been further characterized by security researchers as an integer overflow condition that leads to memory corruption. The flaw demonstrates the dangerous intersection of image processing operations and memory management within Java's multimedia frameworks, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited across various networked environments.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of JPEG image data during the writing process, specifically targeting the subsample handling mechanism within JPEG images. When large values are processed within the subsample parameters of JPEG images, the integer overflow condition manifests, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged by remote attackers. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a fundamental weakness in software design that occurs when an integer value exceeds the maximum representable value for its data type. The attack vector operates through the Java Image I/O API, which provides standardized mechanisms for reading and writing images in various formats, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it targets commonly used image processing functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3565 extends across multiple security dimensions including confidentiality, integrity, and availability, representing a complete compromise of the system's security posture. Attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, leading to unauthorized access and data breaches, while the memory corruption aspects could result in system crashes or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous for web applications and services that process user-uploaded images. This weakness directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1499.004 for Endpoint Denial of Service, demonstrating how such vulnerabilities can be weaponized for both persistent access and system disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Java installations to the latest security updates provided by Oracle, as the company has addressed this issue in subsequent releases. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Java applications to untrusted image sources, while also deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous image processing activities. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning of all Java-based systems, particularly those handling image uploads or processing, and implementation of input validation controls that sanitize image data before processing. Additionally, security teams should consider disabling unnecessary image processing capabilities in Java applications and implementing strict file type validation to prevent exploitation through malicious image uploads. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities within the broader Java ecosystem, ensuring that the underlying integer overflow conditions are properly addressed through code reviews and secure coding practices.