CVE-2013-0422

Oracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE): JRE Remote Code Execution

As of , CVE-2013-0422 in Oracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 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 25 May 2022
US federal deadline
15 June 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 21 May 2026.
EPSS score
0.97Higher than 99% of the CVEs EPSS scores. EPSS estimates the chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days.
EPSS when listed
0.87 on 25 May 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

A vulnerability in the way Java restricts the permissions of Java applets could allow an attacker to execute commands on a vulnerable system.

CISA's description

Multiple vulnerabilities in Oracle Java 7 before Update 11 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by (1) using the public getMBeanInstantiator method in the JmxMBeanServer class to obtain a reference to a private MBeanInstantiator object, then retrieving arbitrary Class references using the findClass method, and (2) using the Reflection API with recursion in a way that bypasses a security check by the java.lang.invoke.MethodHandles.Lookup.checkSecurityManager method due to the inability of the sun.reflect.Reflection.getCallerClass method to skip frames related to the new reflection API, as exploited in the wild in January 2013, as demonstrated by Blackhole and Nuclear Pack, and a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-4681 and CVE-2012-3174. NOTE: some parties have mapped the recursive Reflection API issue to CVE-2012-3174, but CVE-2012-3174 is for a different vulnerability whose details are not public as of 20130114. CVE-2013-0422 covers both the JMX/MBean and Reflection API issues. NOTE: it was originally reported that Java 6 was also vulnerable, but the reporter has retracted this claim, stating that Java 6 is not exploitable because the relevant code is called in a way that does not bypass security checks. NOTE: as of 20130114, a reliable third party has claimed that the findClass/MBeanInstantiator vector was not fixed in Oracle Java 7 Update 11. If there is still a vulnerable condition, then a separate CVE identifier might be created for the unfixed issue.

The CVE record's description, from oracle

CVE published
10 January 2013
Assigned by
oracle
CVSS
9.8 Critical (CVSS 3.1, from CISA-ADP)
CWE-284
Improper Access Control
CWE-264
Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls
CISA SSVC, exploitation
active
CISA SSVC, automatable
yes
CISA SSVC, technical impact
total

Timeline

  1. The CVE record was published.
  2. Exploit-DB published an exploit (EDB-ID 24045).
  3. CISA added it to its list of exploited vulnerabilities.
  4. The US federal deadline to fix it.
  5. 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.

Java Runtime Environment (JRE): other exploited entries

VulnerabilityProductOur groupListedDeadlineEPSS
CVE-2010-0840JRE UnspecifiedOracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE)Patch this weekMetasploit module; EPSS 0.96; verified Exploit-DB entry0.96
CVE-2013-0431JRE Sandbox BypassOracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE)Patch this weekRansomware use; Metasploit module; EPSS 0.90; verified Exploit-DB entry0.90
CVE-2013-2423JRE UnspecifiedOracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE)Patch this weekMetasploit module; EPSS 0.85; verified Exploit-DB entry0.85

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