CVE-2009-3871

CVE-2009-3871 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Sun Jdk with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 7% (93rd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Sun Jdk
• Published: 2009-11-05
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the setBytePixels function in the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) in Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in Sun Java SE in JDK and JRE 5.0 before Update 22, JDK and JRE 6 before Update 17, SDK and JRE 1.3.x before 1.3.1_27, and SDK and JRE 1.4.x before 1.4.2_24 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted arguments, aka Bug Id 6872358.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-3871?

Heap-based buffer overflow in the setBytePixels function in the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) in Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in Sun Java SE in JDK and JRE 5.0 before Update 22, JDK and JRE 6 before Update 17, SDK and JRE 1.3.x before 1.3.1_27, and SDK and JRE 1.4.x before 1.4.2_24 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted arguments, aka Bug Id 6872358.

How severe is CVE-2009-3871?

CVE-2009-3871 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-3871 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-3871?

CVE-2009-3871 primarily affects Sun Jdk. In total, 204 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-3871?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2009-3871 published?

CVE-2009-3871 was published on 2009-11-05 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://java.sun.com/javase/6/webnotes/6u17.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Dec/msg00000.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Dec/msg00001.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-11/msg00010.html
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=126566824131534&w=2
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=131593453929393&w=2
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=134254866602253&w=2
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37231
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37239
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37386
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37581
• http://secunia.com/advisories/37841
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200911-02.xml
• http://securitytracker.com/id?1023132
• http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-270474-1
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3969
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3970
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2010:084
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2010-084891.html
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1694.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/36881
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/3131
• http://zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-09-079/
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A12134
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6698
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8275
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9360

Affected products (204)

• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_10:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_12:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_13:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_14:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_15:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_16:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_17:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_18:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_19:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_20:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_21:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_6:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_7:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_8:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.5.0:update_9:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_10:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_12:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_13:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_14:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_15:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_16:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_6:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_7:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_8:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jdk:1.6.0:update_9:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jre:1.5.0:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jre:1.5.0:update_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jre:1.5.0:update_12:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:sun:jre:1.5.0:update_13:*:*:*:*:*:*

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