Index: vm/vmcore/src/class_support/Class_File_Loader.cpp =================================================================== --- vm/vmcore/src/class_support/Class_File_Loader.cpp (revision 518568) +++ vm/vmcore/src/class_support/Class_File_Loader.cpp (working copy) @@ -2658,6 +2658,11 @@ clss->get_name()->bytes << ": illegal method name for CONSTANT_Methodref entry: " << name->bytes); return false; } + if(name->bytes[0] == '<' && name != env->Init_String) { + REPORT_FAILED_CLASS_CLASS(clss->get_class_loader(), clss, "java/lang/ClassFormatError", + clss->get_name()->bytes << ": illegal method name "<< name->bytes << " at constant pool index " << name_index); + return false; + } } else { //always check method name if classloader is not system if((name != env->Init_String) && !check_member_name(name->bytes,name->len, clss->get_version() < JAVA5_CLASS_FILE_VERSION, true))