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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2012-4681

Oracle Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Aug 27, 2012 · catalog updated Aug 6, 2026 · Oracle Java SE

Patch now

CVE-2012-4681 is in the CISA known-exploited catalog, due Mar 24, 2022. Confirm Oracle Java SE against the vendor advisory and apply that fix. The CVSS score does not change the priority.

Severity
Critical9.8
Known exploitation
CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
98.54%
Remediation
Remediation guidance
Affected products
cpe oracle/jdk · cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop · vendor Oracle Java SE · vendor n/a n/a

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.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe oracle/jdk1.6.0
  • cpe redhat/enterprise linux desktop6.0
  • vendor Oracle Java SEversion unspecified
  • vendor n/a n/aversion unspecified

How to fix CVE-2012-4681

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

CVE-2012-4681 is in the CISA known-exploited catalog, due Mar 24, 2022. Confirm Oracle Java SE against the vendor advisory and apply that fix. The CVSS score does not change the priority.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with redhat/enterprise linux desktop 6.0. Apply updates per vendor instructions.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-284: Improper Access Control. EPSS 98.54%. The CISA KEV listing is the exploitation evidence. A public exploit reference is linked in Sources. That is not the same as confirmed exploitation. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Aug 27, 2012 · Catalog

    Detected

    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.

  2. Mar 3, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Mar 24, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Aug 5, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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.

  5. Aug 6, 2026 · CVE.org

    Updated

    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.

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2012-4681

    The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE allow for remote code execution.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2012-4681

    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.findCla

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2012-4681

    30-day exploitation probability 98.5%

    first.org
  • Exploit DatabasePublic exploit reference20865

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_multi/browser/java_jre17_exec

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2012-4681

    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.findCla

    nvd.nist.gov
  • VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2012-4681

    The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE allow for remote code execution.

    vulncheck.com

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 17, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.