`CVE-2021-2163` Oracle Java SE

Affected software	Oracle Java SE
Affected versions	Java SE: 7u291, 8u281, 11.0.10, 16; Java SE Embedded: 8u281; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 19.3.5, 20.3.1.2, 21.0.0.2
Severity	5.3 Medium CVSS 3.1 2 scores
Fixed in	Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2021
Published	22 Apr 2021
Updated	17 Jun 2026

Description

Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Libraries). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 7u291, 8u281, 11.0.10, 16; Java SE Embedded: 8u281; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 19.3.5, 20.3.1.2 and 21.0.0.2. Difficult to exploit vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java SE, Java SE Embedded, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Java SE, Java SE Embedded, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition accessible data. Note: This vulnerability applies to Java deployments that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 5.3 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

Exploitation status

No public exploit

No exploit has been reported in the sources we check. Published 5 years ago.

CISA KEV not listed
VulnCheck KEV not listed
CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: none
Indexed PoC none indexed
EPSS 3.6% chance in 30 days

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 automated Upstream data
Record active

Decided by	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
Finding	The Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2021 advisory says this vulnerability is reached only through untrusted code running in the Java sandbox, such as an applet or a Web Start application: "This vulnerability applies to Java deployments that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security." A server JVM that runs only its own trusted code is not exposed, so there is nothing for the agent to protect.

Decided by

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

Finding

The Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2021 advisory says this vulnerability is reached only through untrusted code running in the Java sandbox, such as an applet or a Web Start application: "This vulnerability applies to Java deployments that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security." A server JVM that runs only its own trusted code is not exposed, so there is nothing for the agent to protect.

CVSS

5.3 MEDIUM v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N 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 5.3 MEDIUM CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N secalert_us@oracle.com Secondary published

CVSS 2.0 2.6 none AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N NVD Primary

Version	Score	Band	Vector	Assigner	Type
CVSS 3.1	5.3	MEDIUM	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`	secalert_us@oracle.com	Secondary	published
CVSS 2.0	2.6	none	`AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`	NVD	Primary

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

Advisory	Type	Quarter	Products Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2021 ↗	CPU	2021-Q2	Oracle Java SE / Libraries (Java SE: 7u291, 8u281, 11.0.10, 16; Java SE Embedded: 8u281; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 19.3.5, 20.3.1.2, 21.0.0.2) Oracle's note: This vulnerability applies to Java deployments that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security.

Advisory

Type

Quarter

Products Oracle names in its risk matrix

Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2021 ↗

CPU

2021-Q2

Oracle Java SE / Libraries (Java SE: 7u291, 8u281, 11.0.10, 16; Java SE Embedded: 8u281; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 19.3.5, 20.3.1.2, 21.0.0.2)
Oracle's note: This vulnerability applies to Java deployments that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security.

Oracle components and versions

Family	Component	Versions, as Oracle lists them	Read as
Oracle Java SE	Libraries	Java SE: 7u291, 8u281, 11.0.10, 16; Java SE Embedded: 8u281; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 19.3.5, 20.3.1.2, 21.0.0.2	7.0.291.0 · 8.0.281.0 · 11.0.10.0 · 16.0.0.0 · 19.3.5.0 · 20.3.1.0 · 21.0.0.0

Family

Component

Versions, as Oracle lists them

Read as

Oracle Java SE

Libraries

Java SE: 7u291, 8u281, 11.0.10, 16; Java SE Embedded: 8u281; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 19.3.5, 20.3.1.2, 21.0.0.2

7.0.291.0 · 8.0.281.0 · 11.0.10.0 · 16.0.0.0 · 19.3.5.0 · 20.3.1.0 · 21.0.0.0

Products and versions

11 products, 132 version entries

Source	Vendor	Product	Scheme	Affected versions
nvd	debian	debian linux	generic	9.0 · 10.0
nvd	fedoraproject	fedora	generic	32 · 33 · 34
nvd	netapp	active iq unified manager	generic	any version
nvd	netapp	hci compute node	generic	any version
nvd	netapp	hci management node	generic	any version
nvd	netapp	hci storage node	generic	any version
nvd	netapp	solidfire	generic	any version
nvd	oracle	graalvm	javase	19.3.5 · 20.3.1.2 · 21.0.0.2
nvd	oracle	jdk	javase	1.7.0:update291 · 1.8.0:update281 · 11.0.10 · 16.0.0
nvd	oracle	jre	javase	1.8.0:update281
nvd	oracle	openjdk	javase	7 · 7:update1 · 7:update2 · 7:update3 · 7:update4 · 7:update5 · 7:update6 · 7:update7 · 7:update9 · 7:update10 · 7:update11 · 7:update13 · 7:update15 · 7:update17 · 7:update21 · 7:update25 · 7:update40 · 7:update45 · 7:update51 · 7:update55 · 7:update60 · 7:update65 · 7:update67 · 7:update72 · 7:update76 · 7:update80 · 7:update85 · 7:update91 · 7:update95 · 7:update97 · 7:update99 · 7:update101 · 7:update111 · 7:update121 · 7:update131 · 7:update141 · 7:update151 · 7:update161 · 7:update171 · 7:update181 · 7:update191 · 7:update201 · 7:update211 · 7:update221 · 7:update231 · 7:update241 · 7:update251 · 7:update261 · 7:update271 · 7:update281 · 7:update291 · 8 · 8:milestone1 · 8:milestone2 · 8:milestone3 · 8:milestone4 · 8:milestone5 · 8:update5 · 8:milestone6 · 8:milestone7 · 8:milestone8 · 8:milestone9 · 8:update11 · 8:update20 · 8:update25 · 8:update31 · 8:update40 · 8:update45 · 8:update51 · 8:update60 · 8:update65 · 8:update66 · 8:update71 · 8:update72 · 8:update73 · 8:update74 · 8:update77 · 8:update91 · 8:update92 · 8:update101 · 8:update102 · 8:update111 · 8:update112 · 8:update121 · 8:update131 · 8:update141 · 8:update151 · 8:update152 · 8:update161 · 8:update162 · 8:update171 · 8:update172 · 8:update181 · 8:update191 · 8:update192 · 8:update201 · 8:update202 · 8:update211 · 8:update212 · 8:update221 · 8:update222 · 8:update231 · 8:update232 · 8:update241 · 8:update242 · 8:update252 · 8:update262 · 8:update271 · 8:update281 · 8:update282 · ≥ 11.0.0.0 and ≤ 11.0.10.0 · ≥ 13.0.0.0 and ≤ 13.0.6.0 · ≥ 15.0.0.0 and ≤ 15.0.2.0 · 16

Source

Vendor

Product

Scheme

Affected versions

nvd

debian

debian linux

generic

9.0 · 10.0

nvd

fedoraproject

fedora

generic

32 · 33 · 34

nvd

netapp

active iq unified manager

generic

any version

nvd

netapp

hci compute node

generic

any version

nvd

netapp

hci management node

generic

any version

nvd

netapp

hci storage node

generic

any version

nvd

netapp

solidfire

generic

any version

nvd

oracle

graalvm

javase

19.3.5 · 20.3.1.2 · 21.0.0.2

nvd

oracle

jdk

javase

1.7.0:update291 · 1.8.0:update281 · 11.0.10 · 16.0.0

nvd

oracle

jre

javase

1.8.0:update281

nvd

oracle

openjdk

javase

7 · 7:update1 · 7:update2 · 7:update3 · 7:update4 · 7:update5 · 7:update6 · 7:update7 · 7:update9 · 7:update10 · 7:update11 · 7:update13 · 7:update15 · 7:update17 · 7:update21 · 7:update25 · 7:update40 · 7:update45 · 7:update51 · 7:update55 · 7:update60 · 7:update65 · 7:update67 · 7:update72 · 7:update76 · 7:update80 · 7:update85 · 7:update91 · 7:update95 · 7:update97 · 7:update99 · 7:update101 · 7:update111 · 7:update121 · 7:update131 · 7:update141 · 7:update151 · 7:update161 · 7:update171 · 7:update181 · 7:update191 · 7:update201 · 7:update211 · 7:update221 · 7:update231 · 7:update241 · 7:update251 · 7:update261 · 7:update271 · 7:update281 · 7:update291 · 8 · 8:milestone1 · 8:milestone2 · 8:milestone3 · 8:milestone4 · 8:milestone5 · 8:update5 · 8:milestone6 · 8:milestone7 · 8:milestone8 · 8:milestone9 · 8:update11 · 8:update20 · 8:update25 · 8:update31 · 8:update40 · 8:update45 · 8:update51 · 8:update60 · 8:update65 · 8:update66 · 8:update71 · 8:update72 · 8:update73 · 8:update74 · 8:update77 · 8:update91 · 8:update92 · 8:update101 · 8:update102 · 8:update111 · 8:update112 · 8:update121 · 8:update131 · 8:update141 · 8:update151 · 8:update152 · 8:update161 · 8:update162 · 8:update171 · 8:update172 · 8:update181 · 8:update191 · 8:update192 · 8:update201 · 8:update202 · 8:update211 · 8:update212 · 8:update221 · 8:update222 · 8:update231 · 8:update232 · 8:update241 · 8:update242 · 8:update252 · 8:update262 · 8:update271 · 8:update281 · 8:update282 · ≥ 11.0.0.0 and ≤ 11.0.10.0 · ≥ 13.0.0.0 and ≤ 13.0.6.0 · ≥ 15.0.0.0 and ≤ 15.0.2.0 · 16

References

URL	Tags
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2021:1297	ADVISORY, RHSA-2021:1297
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1930527	REPORT, RHSA-2021:1297
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1937736	REPORT, RHSA-2021:1297
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1938082	REPORT, RHSA-2021:1297
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1951217	REPORT, RHSA-2021:1297
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-2163	REPORT, RHSA-2021:1297
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2021:1298	ADVISORY, RHSA-2021:1298
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1938081	REPORT, RHSA-2021:1298
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2021:1299	ADVISORY, RHSA-2021:1299
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2021:1301	ADVISORY, RHSA-2021:1301

URL

Timeline

Published	2021-04-22	By the CVE Program.
NVD record modified	2026-06-17	NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

Published

2021-04-22

By the CVE Program.

NVD record modified

2026-06-17

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

How VRT decided (8 of 24 rules ran)

8 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 no match A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE

5 manual classification no match Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset

6 non-java-upstream no match A root cause in non-Java code: an OS kernel, a C library, or a bundled runtime

7 oracle-component no match 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 decided it matched Outside Waratek scope Oracle Critical Patch Update April 2021 risk-matrix note limits it to untrusted code in the Java sandbox

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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