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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2010-0840

CriticalExploitedPublic exploit

OpenJDK Applet Trusted Methods Chaining Privilege Escalation Vulnerability (6904691)

Published Mar 30, 2010 · Updated Oct 22, 2025

Key Facts

Patch immediately
  • CVE-2010-0840 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Jre (Oracle), Ubuntu Linux (Canonical), Opensuse and 6 more products.
  • It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Jul 26, 2011 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
  • EPSS estimates a 96% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
  • Fixed versions are available, including java 1.4.2-ibm-0:1.4.2.13.5-1jpp.1.el3, java 1.4.2-ibm-0:1.4.2.13.5-1jpp.1.el4, java 1.6.0-sun-1:1.6.0.19-1jpp.1.el5.
  • Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v3.1

9.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

96%

Higher than 99.8% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings, used by ransomware

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2010-0840 brief as a PDF

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Description

Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment component in Oracle Java SE and Java for Business 6 Update 18, 5.0 Update 23, and 1.4.2_25 allows remote attackers to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability via unknown vectors. NOTE: the previous information was obtained from the March 2010 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from a reliable researcher that this is related to improper checks when executing privileged methods in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) an untrusted object that extends the trusted class but has not modified a certain method, or (2) "a similar trust issue with interfaces," aka "Trusted Methods Chaining Remote Code Execution Vulnerability."

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

CatalogAddedRemediation dueRansomware use
CISA KEVMay 25, 2022Jun 15, 2022Not reported
Industry KEV feedJul 26, 2011Jun 15, 2022Known
CIRCL KEVMay 25, 2022Jun 15, 2022Not reported
ENISA EUVDMay 25, 2022n/aNot reported

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected Products

18 affected entries in total
ProductAffected versionsFixed in
JreOracle1.4.2_25, 1.5.0-update23, 1.6.0-update18n/a
Ubuntu LinuxCanonical8.04, 8.10, 9.04, 9.10n/a
OpensuseOpensuse11.0, 11.1, 11.2n/a
java-1.6.0-openjdk-demooracleSee advisory1:1.6.0.0-1.11.b16.0.1.el5
java-1.6.0-openjdk-develoracleSee advisory1:1.6.0.0-1.11.b16.0.1.el5
4 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Patched Releases

java

1.4.2-ibm-0:1.4.2.13.5-1jpp.1.el3, 1.4.2-ibm-0:1.4.2.13.5-1jpp.1.el4, 1.6.0-sun-1:1.6.0.19-1jpp.1.el5

java-1.6.0-openjdk

1:1.6.0.0-1.11.b16.0.1.el5

java-1.6.0-openjdk-demo

1:1.6.0.0-1.11.b16.0.1.el5

java-1.6.0-openjdk-devel

1:1.6.0.0-1.11.b16.0.1.el5

java-1.6.0-openjdk-javadoc

1:1.6.0.0-1.11.b16.0.1.el5

java-1.6.0-openjdk-src

1:1.6.0.0-1.11.b16.0.1.el5

Timeline

  1. Publicly disclosed

    Mar 30, 2010

  2. Added to Industry KEV feed

    Jul 26, 2011

  3. Added to CISA KEV

    May 25, 2022

  4. Added to CIRCL KEV

    May 25, 2022

  5. Added to ENISA EUVD

    May 25, 2022

  6. Last updated

    Oct 22, 2025

References

15 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

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