`CVE-2013-0422`

Affected software	2 products, listed below
Severity	9.8 Critical CVSS 3.1 2 scores
Weakness	Improper access control (CWE-284)
Published	10 Jan 2013
Updated	19 Oct 2026

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.

Exploitation status

Exploited

Confirmed real-world exploitation.

CISA KEV listed Confirmed exploitation in the wild. Added 2022-05-25 · remediation due 2022-06-15 · ransomware use: known
VulnCheck KEV listed Exploitation reported in the wild. 11 citations · earliest 2013-01-10.
CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: active CISA records active exploitation. Automatable: yes, technical impact: total.
Indexed PoC 2 indexed Published artifacts you can open, in Exploit-DB, Metasploit; first seen 2013-01-11.
EPSS 97% chance in 30 days A model's forecast, not a report of exploitation. Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs.

VulnCheck KEV

Exploitation evidence from VulnCheck Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (VulnCheck KEV), used under VulnCheck's community terms. View CVE-2013-0422 in VulnCheck (free account), which lists 6 more citations not shown here.

Evidence	Source	Detail	Date
Reported exploitation	cve.org	/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-0422	2013-01-10
Reported exploitation	cisa.gov	/news-events/alerts/2013/01/10/oracle-java-7-security-manager-bypass-vulnerability	2013-02-06
Reported exploitation	virusbulletin.com	/virusbulletin/2013/04/java-security-era-byod	2013-04-01
Reported exploitation	kung_foo.keybase.pub	/papers_and_presentations/Unveiling_an_Indian_Cyberattack_Infrastructure.pdf	2013-05-01
Reported exploitation	krebsonsecurity.com	/2013/07/styx-exploit-pack-domo-arigato-pc-roboto	2013-07-08

Evidence

Source

Detail

Date

Reported exploitation

cve.org

/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-0422

2013-01-10

Reported exploitation

cisa.gov

/news-events/alerts/2013/01/10/oracle-java-7-security-manager-bypass-vulnerability

2013-02-06

Reported exploitation

virusbulletin.com

/virusbulletin/2013/04/java-security-era-byod

2013-04-01

Reported exploitation

kung_foo.keybase.pub

/papers_and_presentations/Unveiling_an_Indian_Cyberattack_Infrastructure.pdf

2013-05-01

Reported exploitation

krebsonsecurity.com

/2013/07/styx-exploit-pack-domo-arigato-pc-roboto

2013-07-08

Index	Artifact	Stars	First seen
Exploit-DB	Java Applet JMX - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (1)		2013-01-11
Metasploit	Java Applet JMX Remote Code Execution (excellent rank)

Index

Artifact

Stars

First seen

Exploit-DB

Java Applet JMX - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (1)

2013-01-11

Metasploit

Java Applet JMX Remote Code Execution (excellent rank)

Waratek protection

Outside Waratek scope

A Java vulnerability, but not one Waratek protects. It affects only Java on a user's desktop (applets, Web Start, JavaFX, the installer), sits in a product the Waratek agent can't be installed into, or is in a package we don't expect in business applications. The decision below says which.

Protection none
Action not pursued none
Review human Researcher
Record active

Decided by	A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE
Finding	A researcher set this CVE's status to Outside Waratek scope.

Decided by

A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE

Finding

A researcher set this CVE's status to Outside Waratek scope.

Waratek research note

written 2026-11-13

Written by a Waratek engineer who reviewed this CVE. Their decision sets the status above, ahead of every automated rule except a withdrawal.

Comments

Client-side: fixed out of band by Oracle's Security Alert for CVE-2013-0422 (January 2013), which says it affects Java running in web browsers and is "not applicable to Java running on servers, standalone Java desktop applications or embedded Java applications. They also do not affect Oracle server-based software." The exploit used in the wild, and Metasploit's multi/browser/java_jre17_jmxbean (EDB-24045), is an applet that reaches restricted classes through MBeanInstantiator and the reflection API to switch off the Security Manager. A server running its own trusted code has no sandbox to escape. It never appeared in a CPU risk matrix, so java-client-side has no note to read.

CVSS

9.8 CRITICAL v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H 2 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

Version Score Band Vector Assigner Type

CVSS 3.1 9.8 CRITICAL CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H CISA-ADP Secondary published

CVSS 2.0 10.0 none AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C NVD Primary

Version	Score	Band	Vector	Assigner	Type
CVSS 3.1	9.8	CRITICAL	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`	CISA-ADP	Secondary	published
CVSS 2.0	10.0	none	`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`	NVD	Primary

Affected software and releases

Products and versions

4 products, 22 version entries

Source	Vendor	Product	Scheme	Affected versions
nvd	canonical	ubuntu linux	generic	12.10
nvd	opensuse	opensuse	generic	12.2
nvd	oracle	jdk	javase	1.7.0 · 1.7.0:update1 · 1.7.0:update2 · 1.7.0:update3 · 1.7.0:update4 · 1.7.0:update5 · 1.7.0:update6 · 1.7.0:update7 · 1.7.0:update9 · 1.7.0:update10
nvd	oracle	jre	javase	1.7.0 · 1.7.0:update1 · 1.7.0:update2 · 1.7.0:update3 · 1.7.0:update4 · 1.7.0:update5 · 1.7.0:update6 · 1.7.0:update7 · 1.7.0:update9 · 1.7.0:update10

Source

Vendor

Product

Scheme

Affected versions

nvd

canonical

ubuntu linux

generic

12.10

nvd

opensuse

generic

12.2

nvd

oracle

jdk

javase

1.7.0 · 1.7.0:update1 · 1.7.0:update2 · 1.7.0:update3 · 1.7.0:update4 · 1.7.0:update5 · 1.7.0:update6 · 1.7.0:update7 · 1.7.0:update9 · 1.7.0:update10

nvd

oracle

jre

javase

1.7.0 · 1.7.0:update1 · 1.7.0:update2 · 1.7.0:update3 · 1.7.0:update4 · 1.7.0:update5 · 1.7.0:update6 · 1.7.0:update7 · 1.7.0:update9 · 1.7.0:update10

References

URL	Tags
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013:0165	ADVISORY, RHSA-2013:0165
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2013-0422	REPORT, RHSA-2013:0165
http://blog.fireeye.com/research/2013/01/happy-new-year-from-new-java-zero-day.html	Not Applicable
http://blog.fuseyism.com/index.php/2013/01/15/security-icedtea-2-1-4-2-2-4-2-3-4-released/	Broken Link
http://immunityproducts.blogspot.ca/2013/01/confirmed-java-only-fixed-one-of-two.html	Third Party Advisory
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/01/zero-day-java-exploit-debuts-in-crimeware/	Third Party Advisory
http://labs.alienvault.com/labs/index.php/2013/new-year-new-java-zeroday/	Broken Link, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-01/msg00025.html	Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://malware.dontneedcoffee.com/2013/01/0-day-17u10-spotted-in-while-disable.html	Third Party Advisory
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0156.html	Third Party Advisory

URL

Timeline

Published	2013-01-10	By the CVE Program.
VulnCheck KEV: earliest evidence	2013-01-10	Date of the oldest evidence of exploitation in VulnCheck KEV's record. VulnCheck does not publish the date it listed the CVE.
Added to CISA KEV	2022-05-25	Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
VulnCheck KEV: latest evidence	2023-02-14	Date of the newest report, exploit reference or honeypot sighting in VulnCheck KEV's record.
NVD record modified	2026-06-16	NVD's own last-modified date for this record.
Last VRT activity	2026-10-19	Most recent commit touching this CVE's classification, patch or rule file.
Classification created	2026-11-13	First commit adding this CVE's research note.

Published

2013-01-10

By the CVE Program.

VulnCheck KEV: earliest evidence

2013-01-10

Date of the oldest evidence of exploitation in VulnCheck KEV's record. VulnCheck does not publish the date it listed the CVE.

Added to CISA KEV

2022-05-25

Listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

VulnCheck KEV: latest evidence

2023-02-14

Date of the newest report, exploit reference or honeypot sighting in VulnCheck KEV's record.

NVD record modified

2026-06-16

NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

Last VRT activity

2026-10-19

Most recent commit touching this CVE's classification, patch or rule file.

Classification created

2026-11-13

First commit adding this CVE's research note.

How VRT decided (4 of 24 rules ran)

4 of 24 rules ran. The rest didn't run because an earlier rule had already settled the CVE.

# Rule Outcome Status Detail

identity: Does this identifier describe a vulnerability at all? the first rule that matches decides

1 rejected no match CVE Program withdrawal of this identifier

scope: Is it a vulnerability Waratek protects? the first rule that matches decides

2 armr-patch-file no match An ARMR patch file on disk for this CVE

3 armr-secure-rule-file no match An ARMR security-rule template on disk for this CVE

4 manual-classification decided it matched Outside Waratek scope A researcher set this CVE's status to Outside Waratek scope.

5 manual classification not reached Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset

6 non-java-upstream not reached A root cause in non-Java code: an OS kernel, a C library, or a bundled runtime

7 oracle-component not reached The defect being in a component of a tracked product the agent does not reach: JavaFX, the Java SE installer, the JInitiator browser plug-in, the native WebLogic proxy plug-in, or a native part of Oracle Application Server or Collaboration Suite (HTTP Server, Web Cache, Internet Directory, mail and calendar servers). Oracle gives these no CPE of their own and names them only in the description.

8 java-client-side not reached Oracle's own risk-matrix note saying the CVE is reached only through untrusted code in the Java sandbox (applets, Web Start) or only through a client installation of Java, so a server running its own trusted code is not exposed

9 osv-maven not reached An OSV.dev record of this CVE affecting a package published to Maven Central. When every such package is one business applications do not use (Minecraft mods and launchers, Fastjson) and no tracked product is named by CPE, it settles the CVE as Outside Waratek scope instead

10 cna-maven-package not reached An affected Maven artifact named by the CNA itself

11 known-cpe-product not reached An NVD CPE naming a product ARMR tracks

12 cna-cpe-product not reached A CPE the CNA published naming a tracked product. Oracle publishes these on advisory day, months before NVD.

13 oracle-advisory-family not reached A tracked product family named in Oracle's own risk matrix. CPE cannot carry a suite name, only a module.

14 cna-named-product not reached A tracked product named in words by the CVE's own CNA, on a record with no CPE yet. Apache and Eclipse publish these on advisory day, before NVD adds CPE data.

15 non-deployable-product not reached The only affected product being a sealed appliance image, where Java runs but no -javaagent can be attached

16 unmatched-product not reached No tracked product matched above, and none present at all

disposition: What do we do about one that is? every rule runs

17 patch-hint not reached A reference pointing at the upstream fix: a commit, a PR, a Red Hat bug

18 open-source-maven not reached The affected package being open source on Maven, so the fix can be read

19 poc-derivable not reached An indexed exploit clearing the evidence bar to reverse-engineer, where there is no source to read

20 no-exploit not reached Nothing to build a rule from yet: no published exploit, no CISA record of exploitation and no source-level change to read

21 secure-rule-match not reached A vulnerability class already blocked by an ARMR security rule

22 exploited-no-fix-or-poc not reached Somebody exploiting this CVE (a CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, or a CISA verdict of active exploitation), with no fix, source code or PoC to build a rule from

23 below-action-threshold not reached Medium or Low severity, no CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, no PoC clearing the evidence bar, no CISA verdict, no Oracle advisory

24 no-exploit-published not reached Exploit code for this candidate, published in a reviewed catalogue or a GitHub repository with 5 or more stars, or in use per CISA or VulnCheck; not only a CISA verdict, a forecast, or nothing at all

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