Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 RHSA-2009:1584-01 Important OpenJDK Fix

These packages provide the OpenJDK 6 Java Runtime Environment and the OpenJDK 6 Software Development Kit. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) contains the software and tools that users need to run applications written using the Java programming language.
An integer overflow flaw and buffer overflow flaws were found in the way the JRE processed image files. An untrusted applet or application could use these flaws to extend its privileges, allowing it to read and write local files, as well as to execute local applications with the privileges of the user running the applet or application. (CVE-2009-3869, CVE-2009-3871, CVE-2009-3873, CVE-2009-3874)
An information leak was found in the JRE. An untrusted applet or application could use this flaw to extend its privileges, allowing it to read and write local files, as well as to execute local applications with the privileges of the user running the applet or application. (CVE-2009-3881)
It was discovered that the JRE still accepts certificates with MD2 hash signatures, even though MD2 is no longer considered a cryptographically strong algorithm. This could make it easier for an attacker to create a malicious certificate that would be treated as trusted by the JRE. With this update, the JRE disables the use of the MD2 algorithm inside signatures by default. (CVE-2009-2409)
A timing attack flaw was found in the way the JRE processed HMAC digests. This flaw could aid an attacker using forged digital signatures to bypass authentication checks. (CVE-2009-3875)
Two denial of service flaws were found in the JRE. These could be exploited in server-side application scenarios that process DER-encoded (Distinguished Encoding Rules) data. (CVE-2009-3876, CVE-2009-3877)
An information leak was found in the way the JRE handled color profiles. An attacker could use this flaw to discover the existence of files outside of the color profiles directory. (CVE-2009-3728)
A flaw in the JRE with passing arrays to the X11GraphicsDevice API was found. An untrusted applet or application could use this flaw to access and modify the list of supported graphics configurations. This flaw could also lead to sensitive information being leaked to unprivileged code. (CVE-2009-3879)
It was discovered that the JRE passed entire objects to the logging API. This could lead to sensitive information being leaked to either untrusted or lower-privileged code from an attacker-controlled applet which has access to the logging API and is therefore able to manipulate (read and/or call) the passed objects. (CVE-2009-3880)
Potential information leaks were found in various mutable static variables. These could be exploited in application scenarios that execute untrusted scripting code. (CVE-2009-3882, CVE-2009-3883)
An information leak was found in the way the TimeZone.getTimeZone method was handled. This method could load time zone files that are outside of the [JRE_HOME]/lib/zi/ directory, allowing a remote attacker to probe the local file system. (CVE-2009-3884)
Note: The flaws concerning applets in this advisory, CVE-2009-3869, CVE-2009-3871, CVE-2009-3873, CVE-2009-3874, CVE-2009-3879, CVE-2009-3880, CVE-2009-3881 and CVE-2009-3884, can only be triggered in java-1.6.0-openjdk by calling the "appletviewer" application.
All users of java-1.6.0-openjdk are advised to upgrade to these updated packages, which resolve these issues. All running instances of OpenJDK Java must be restarted for the update to take effect.