Oracle · Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
CVE-2013-0422
Oracle JRE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
What it is
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.
CISA: A vulnerability in the way Java restricts the permissions of Java applets could allow an attacker to execute commands on a vulnerable system.
What to do
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Deadline for US federal agencies: June 15, 2022
- Added to the CISA list
- May 25, 2022
- Published
- January 10, 2013
- Severity
- Critical 9.8 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 97% in the top 0.1% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-264
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (19)
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0156.html
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:095
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-01/msg00025.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0165.html
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1693-1
- http://malware.dontneedcoffee.com/2013/01/0-day-17u10-spotted-in-while-disable.html
- http://blog.fuseyism.com/index.php/2013/01/15/security-icedtea-2-1-4-2-2-4-2-3-4-released/
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/625617
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA13-010A.html
- https://partners.immunityinc.com/idocs/Java%20MBeanInstantiator.findClass%200day%20Analysis.pdf
- http://blog.fireeye.com/research/2013/01/happy-new-year-from-new-java-zero-day.html
- https://www-304.ibm.com/connections/blogs/PSIRT/entry/oracle_java_7_security_manager_bypass_vulnerability_cve…
- https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Support/Advisories/MGASA-2013-0018
- http://immunityproducts.blogspot.ca/2013/01/confirmed-java-only-fixed-one-of-two.html
- https://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/nasty-new-java-zero-day-found-exploit-kits-already-have-it-011013
- http://seclists.org/bugtraq/2013/Jan/48
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2013-0422-1896849.html
- http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/01/zero-day-java-exploit-debuts-in-crimeware/
- http://labs.alienvault.com/labs/index.php/2013/new-year-new-java-zeroday/
More exploited flaws from Oracle
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 2022 | JRE Unspecified | Java Runtime Environment (JRE) | Critical 9.8 | 96% |
| May 25, 2022 | JRE Sandbox Bypass | Java Runtime Environment (JRE) | Low 3.7 | 90% |
| May 25, 2022 | JRE Unspecified | Java Runtime Environment (JRE) | Low 3.7 | 85% |
| Aug 24, 2026 | Improper Access Control | HTTP Server and Oracle Weblogic Server Proxy Plug-in | Critical 10.0 | 73% |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Improper Privilege Management | E-Business Suite | Critical 9.8 | 12% |
| Jun 12, 2026 | PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools Missing Authentication for Critical Function | PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools | Critical 9.8 | 97% |
| Jun 1, 2026 | Unspecified | WebLogic Server | High 7.5 | 74% |
| Nov 21, 2025 | Missing Authentication for Critical Function | Fusion Middleware | Critical 9.8 | 89% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.