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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2013-0422

CriticalExploitedPublic exploit

OpenJDK: MethodHandles.Lookup incorrect permission checks, Java 7 0day (Libraries, 8006017)

Published Jan 10, 2013 · Updated Oct 22, 2025

Key Facts

Patch immediately
  • CVE-2013-0422 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Jdk (Oracle), Jre (Oracle), Ubuntu Linux (Canonical) and 22 more products.
  • It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Jan 10, 2013 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
  • EPSS estimates a 97% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
  • Fixed versions are available, including java 1.7.0-ibm-1:1.7.0.4.0-1jpp.2.el6_4, java 1.7.0-oracle-1:1.7.0.11-1jpp.3.el5_9, java-1_7_0-ibm 1.7.0_sr6.0-0.7.1.
  • 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)

97%

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-2013-0422 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

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.

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

CatalogAddedRemediation dueRansomware use
CISA KEVMay 25, 2022Jun 15, 2022Known
Industry KEV feedJan 10, 2013Jun 15, 2022Known
CIRCL KEVMay 25, 2022Jun 15, 2022Not reported
ENISA EUVDMay 25, 2022n/aNot reported

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected Products

59 affected entries in total
ProductAffected versionsFixed in
JdkOracle1.7.0, 1.7.0-update1, 1.7.0-update10, 1.7.0-update2, 1.7.0-update3, 1.7.0-update4, 1.7.0-update5, 1.7.0-update6n/a
JreOracle1.7.0, 1.7.0-update1, 1.7.0-update10, 1.7.0-update2, 1.7.0-update3, 1.7.0-update4, 1.7.0-update5, 1.7.0-update6n/a
Ubuntu LinuxCanonical12.10n/a
OpensuseOpensuse12.2n/a
java-1.7.0-openjdk-demooracleSee advisory1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.0.1.el5_9.1
20 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Patched Releases

java

1.7.0-ibm-1:1.7.0.4.0-1jpp.2.el6_4, 1.7.0-oracle-1:1.7.0.11-1jpp.3.el5_9

java-1_7_0-ibm

1.7.0_sr6.0-0.7.1

java-1_7_0-ibm-alsa

1.7.0_sr6.0-0.7.1

java-1_7_0-ibm-devel

1.7.0_sr7.0-0.5.1

java-1_7_0-ibm-jdbc

1.7.0_sr6.0-0.7.1

java-1_7_0-ibm-plugin

1.7.0_sr6.0-0.7.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-accessibility

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-bootstrap

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-bootstrap-devel

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-bootstrap-headless

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-demo

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-devel

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-headless

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-javadoc

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1_7_0-openjdk-src

1.7.0.121-1.1

java-1.7.0-openjdk

1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.0.1.el5_9.1, 1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.1.0.1.el6_3

java-1.7.0-openjdk-demo

1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.0.1.el5_9.1, 1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.1.0.1.el6_3

java-1.7.0-openjdk-devel

1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.0.1.el5_9.1, 1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.1.0.1.el6_3

java-1.7.0-openjdk-javadoc

1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.0.1.el5_9.1, 1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.1.0.1.el6_3

java-1.7.0-openjdk-src

1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.0.1.el5_9.1, 1:1.7.0.9-2.3.4.1.0.1.el6_3

Timeline

  1. Publicly disclosed

    Jan 10, 2013

  2. Added to Industry KEV feed

    Jan 10, 2013

  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

Weakness Type

  • CWE-284 Improper Access Control

References

15 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

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