CVE-2009-3873
CWE-119Published: November 5, 2009· Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Official Description
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.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2009-3873 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-119): Buffer overflow vulnerabilities can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service by corrupting adjacent memory.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (52)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-119)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2009-3873 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts