Sun Microsystems has issued patches to fix several bugs in its Java Java Runtime Environment that makes Windows, Linux and Solaris wide open open to various attacks.

Sun Microsystems said the highly critical vulnerabilities could have let hackers to read or alter sensitive information stored on a vulnerable machine. The fixes to Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.3.1, 1.4.2, 5.0 and 6.0 plug holes that attackers could use to bypass security restrictions, manipulate data, disclose sensitive information or compromise an unpatched machine.