CVE-2012-4681
Oracle Java SE: Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution
As of , CVE-2012-4681 in Oracle Java SE is on CISA's list of exploited vulnerabilities: CISA listed it on . Our patch-first group: Patch this week.
- Exploited
- Yes: CISA listed it on 3 March 2022
- US federal deadline
- 24 March 202221 days after CISA listed it. US federal civilian agencies must fix it by then.
- Used in ransomware campaigns
- KnownCISA changed it from Unknown to Known on 9 June 2025.
- EPSS score
- 0.99Higher than 99% of the CVEs EPSS scores. EPSS estimates the chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
- EPSS when listed
- 0.92 on 3 March 2022EPSS on the day CISA listed it.
- Public exploit
- 1 Metasploit module and 1 Exploit-DB entry (1 verified)
- Fix
- No vendor link in CISA's entry
What CISA says to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
CISA's required action
What the flaw is
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE allow for remote code execution.
CISA's description
Multiple vulnerabilities in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 6 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted applet that bypasses SecurityManager restrictions by (1) using com.sun.beans.finder.ClassFinder.findClass and leveraging an exception with the forName method to access restricted classes from arbitrary packages such as sun.awt.SunToolkit, then (2) using "reflection with a trusted immediate caller" to leverage the getField method to access and modify private fields, as exploited in the wild in August 2012 using Gondzz.class and Gondvv.class.
The CVE record's description, from mitre
- CVE published
- 28 August 2012
- Assigned by
- mitre
- CVSS
- 9.8 Critical (CVSS 3.1, from CISA-ADP)
- CWE-284
- Improper Access Control
- CISA SSVC, exploitation
- active
- CISA SSVC, automatable
- yes
- CISA SSVC, technical impact
- total
Timeline
- Exploit-DB published an exploit (EDB-ID 20865).
- The CVE record was published.
- CISA added it to its list of exploited vulnerabilities.
- The US federal deadline to fix it.
- CISA changed its entry. Ransomware use: Unknown to Known.
Public exploits
Facts from Metasploit's module list and Exploit-DB's index; we never copy exploit code.
- Metasploit: Java 7 Applet Remote Code Executionexploit module, rank excellent
- Exploit-DB: Java 7 Applet - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit)EDB-ID 20865, verified by Exploit-DB, 27 August 2012
Java SE: other exploited entries
| Vulnerability | Product | Our group | Listed | Deadline | EPSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2012-5076Sandbox Bypass | Oracle Java SE | Patch this weekMetasploit module; EPSS 0.91; verified Exploit-DB entry | 0.91 | ||
| CVE-2013-2465Unspecified | Oracle Java SE | Patch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.99; verified Exploit-DB entry | 0.99 | ||
| CVE-2012-0507Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution | Oracle Java SE | Patch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.98; verified Exploit-DB entry | 0.98 | ||
| CVE-2012-1723Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution | Oracle Java SE | Patch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.94; verified Exploit-DB entry | 0.94 | ||
| CVE-2015-2590and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution | Oracle Java SE | Patch soon | 0.25 | ||
| CVE-2015-4902Integrity Check | Oracle Java SE | Patch soon | 0.14 |
Read further
- CVE recordcve.org
- NVD entrynvd.nist.gov
- CISA's catalogcisa.gov
- EPSS for this CVEapi.first.org