CVE DATABASE / CVE-2012-4681
CVE-2012-4681
Oracle Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2022-03-03.
Federal remediation due 2022-03-24.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Summary
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.
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 9.8 (CRITICAL) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| Attack vector | NETWORK |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | NONE |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity | HIGH |
| Availability | HIGH |
Weakness type (CWE)
Affected products
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References
- http://blog.fireeye.com/research/2012/08/zero-day-season-is-not-over-yet.html
- http://immunityproducts.blogspot.com/2012/08/java-0day-analysis-cve-2012-4681.html
- http://labs.alienvault.com/labs/index.php/2012/new-java-0day-exploited-in-the-wild/
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-09/msg00032.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-10/msg00016.html
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=135109152819176&w=2
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1225.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/51044
- http://www.deependresearch.org/2012/08/java-7-vulnerability-analysis.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2012-4681-1835715.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/55213
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-240A.html
- https://community.rapid7.com/community/metasploit/blog/2012/08/27/lets-start-the-week-with-a-new-java-0day
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2012-4681
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2026-04-21. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.