CVE-2010-3571 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, 1.4.2_27, and 1.3.1_28 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 in the color profile parser that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Tag structure in a color profile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3571 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 older versions. This vulnerability resides within the 2D component of the Java runtime environment, specifically within the color profile parser functionality that handles color management in graphical applications. The issue stems from an integer overflow condition that occurs when processing specially crafted Tag structures within color profile files, creating a potential pathway for remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified in the initial description suggests the complexity and severity of the underlying flaw, which has been confirmed by security researchers to be a critical integer overflow in the color profile parsing mechanism.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of color profile files that contain maliciously crafted Tag structures designed to trigger the integer overflow condition within the color profile parser. When the Java runtime processes these malformed color profiles, the overflow condition can lead to memory corruption that attackers can potentially leverage to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running Java application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which represents a well-documented class of vulnerabilities where integer arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value representable by the data type. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be initiated through remote delivery of malicious color profile files, making it accessible to attackers without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-3571 extends beyond simple confidentiality breaches to encompass full integrity and availability compromise, as demonstrated by the vulnerability's potential to allow remote code execution. This means that an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain complete control over systems running vulnerable Java versions, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, and service disruption. The widespread adoption of Java across enterprise environments and web applications makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it could affect numerous applications that utilize color profile functionality. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Java version streams including older legacy versions indicates that organizations with extended support requirements or legacy systems may remain at risk for extended periods. The integer overflow condition creates a fundamental memory management issue that can be exploited through the standard Java runtime processing of color profiles, making it a particularly insidious threat that could be triggered by common graphical operations.
Organizations affected by CVE-2010-3571 should prioritize immediate patching of all vulnerable Java installations, with particular attention to the specific version streams mentioned in the vulnerability description. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches provided by Oracle, which address the integer overflow condition in the color profile parser component. System administrators should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious color profile files and consider disabling color profile processing where such functionality is not required for business operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, as the integer overflow creates opportunities for attackers to execute malicious code within the Java runtime environment. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running vulnerable Java versions and implement monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where Java applications process user-supplied color profile data or graphics files from external sources.