Description
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Sun JDK and JRE 6 Update 10 and earlier; JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 16 and earlier; and SDK and JRE 1.4.2_18 and earlier does not properly enforce context of ZoneInfo objects during deserialization, which allows remote attackers to run untrusted applets and applications in a privileged context, as demonstrated by "deserializing Calendar objects".
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | java-1.4.2-ibm +6 | 1.4.2.13-1jpp.1.el5 | RHSA-2009:0445 |
| RHEL 5 | java-1.5.0-ibm +7 | 1:1.5.0.9-1jpp.2.el5 | RHSA-2009:0016 |
| RHEL 5 | java-1.5.0-sun +5 | 1.5.0.17-1jpp.2.el5 | RHSA-2008:1025 |
| RHEL 5 | java-1.6.0-ibm +7 | 1:1.6.0.3-1jpp.1.el5 | RHSA-2009:0015 |
| RHEL 5 | java-1.6.0-sun +5 | 1:1.6.0.11-1jpp.1.el5 | RHSA-2008:1018 |
| RHEL 4 | java-1.4.2-ibm +6 | 1.4.2.13-1jpp.1.el4 | RHSA-2009:0445 |
| RHEL 4 | java-1.5.0-ibm +6 | 1:1.5.0.9-1jpp.4.el4 | RHSA-2009:0016 |
| RHEL 4 | java-1.5.0-sun +5 | 1.5.0.17-1jpp.2.el4 | RHSA-2008:1025 |
| RHEL 4 | java-1.6.0-ibm +6 | 1:1.6.0.3-1jpp.3.el4 | RHSA-2009:0015 |
| RHEL 4 | java-1.6.0-sun +5 | 1:1.6.0.11-1jpp.1.el4 | RHSA-2008:1018 |
| RHEL 3 | java-1.4.2-ibm +5 | 1.4.2.13-1jpp.1.el3 | RHSA-2009:0445 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Network Satellite 5 | java-1.5.0-ibm +1 | 1:1.5.0.9-1jpp.2.el5 | RHSA-2009:0466 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Metasploit 1 module
-
Sun Java Calendar Deserialization Privilege Escalation
exploit/multi/browser/java_calendar_deserialize
Exploit-DB 4
- Signed Applet Social Engineering - Code Execution (Metasploit) EDB-16302 · remote · Jan 8, 2011 · verified
- Sun Java - Calendar Deserialization (Metasploit) EDB-16293 · remote · Sep 20, 2010 · verified
- Apple Mac OSX - Java applet Remote Deserialization Remote (2) EDB-8753 · remote · May 20, 2009 · verified
- Sun Java Runtime and Development Kit 6 Update 10 - Calendar Deserialization (Metasploit) EDB-9948 · remote · Dec 3, 2008 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 6
- RHSA-2009:0466 Red Hat Security Advisory: java-1.5.0-ibm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0445 Red Hat Security Advisory: java-1.4.2-ibm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0015 Red Hat Security Advisory: java-1.6.0-ibm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2009:0016 Red Hat Security Advisory: java-1.5.0-ibm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2008:1018 Red Hat Security Advisory: java-1.6.0-sun security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2008:1025 Red Hat Security Advisory: java-1.5.0-sun security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
References
- SSRT090049 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2009:018 vendor-advisory
- 34259 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2009-0672 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2008:1018 vendor-advisory
- 33015 third-party-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2009-012.htm
- 34889 third-party-advisory
- 34233 third-party-advisory
- 1021313 vdb-entry
- GLSA-200911-02 vendor-advisory
- http://www116.nortel.com/pub/repository/CLARIFY/DOCUMENT/2009/03/024431-01.pdf
- http://blog.cr0.org/2009/05/write-once-own-everyone.html
- SUSE-SA:2009:007 vendor-advisory
- SSRT080111 vendor-advisory
- 38539 third-party-advisory
- http://landonf.bikemonkey.org/code/macosx/CVE-2008-5353.20090519.html
- 34972 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0466 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2009:006 vendor-advisory
- 35065 third-party-advisory
- 33528 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6511 vdb-entry signature
- 20090524 Hardening OSX against CVE-2008-5353 mailing-list
- RHSA-2008:1025 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2008-3339 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2009:0445 vendor-advisory
- 244991 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0016 vendor-advisory
- TA08-340A third-party-advisory
- 33709 third-party-advisory
- http://support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&DocumentOID=829914&poid=
- 34605 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2009:010 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0015 vendor-advisory
- 35118 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2009-1391 vdb-entry
- 32991 third-party-advisory
- 50500 vdb-entry
- 32608 vdb-entry
- 37386 third-party-advisory
- 33710 third-party-advisory