# CVE-2014-8873: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a malicious JAR file due to improper MIME type registration in the Debian OpenJDK package.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 9 Nov 2015
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8crp-v9pf-hp45

## What is CVE-2014-8873?

CVE-2014-8873 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Oracle Openjdk, published on 9 Nov 2015. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A .desktop file in the Debian openjdk-7 package 7u79-2.5.5-1~deb8u1 includes a MIME type registration that is added to /etc/mailcap by mime-support, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a JAR file.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-8873?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Oracle Openjdk.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-8873?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2014-8873 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-8873 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Oracle Openjdk

- [CVE-2014-0462](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-0462/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-2405](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2405/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-20264](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-20264/): Privilege escalation in containers/openjdk (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2014-1876](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1876/): Path traversal in n/a (medium 4.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-8873 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-8873 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Oracle Openjdk, published on 9 Nov 2015. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-8873 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Oracle Openjdk. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-8873/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-8873/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-8873
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-8873
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-8873

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-8873/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.