CVE-2012-4681

Confirmed PUBLISHED

Multiple vulnerabilities in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 6 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute...

Oracle · Java SE

Exploited in the wild Used in malware PoC available

Recommended Action

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.

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Confidence

Confirmed

Exploitation Status

Exploited in the wild

Observed in Sensors

Attempts (30d)

—

Unique Attacker IPs

—

CISA KEV

In CISA KEV

CVSS / EPSS

9.8 Critical

At a Glance

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.

cisa metasploit java malware

CVE Published: Aug 28, 2012
Exploitation Reported: Mar 03, 2022
CVSS: 9.8 Critical
EPSS: —

Remote Low complexity No user interaction Unauthenticated

Affected Versions

Vendor	Product	Version	Status
n/a	n/a	n/a	Affected

CVE References

SUSE-SU-2012:1398 lists.opensuse.org · Vendor Advisory http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-10/msg00016...
SUSE-SU-2012:1231 lists.opensuse.org · Vendor Advisory http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-09/msg00032...
SSRT100970 marc.info · Vendor Advisory http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=135109152819176&w=2
RHSA-2012:1225 rhn.redhat.com · Vendor Advisory http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1225.html
TA12-240A us-cert.gov · Third-Party Advisory http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-240A.html

Show 8 more references

51044 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/51044
55213 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/55213
blog.fireeye.com/research/2012/08/zero-day-season-is-not-over... blog.fireeye.com · CVE Record http://blog.fireeye.com/research/2012/08/zero-day-season-is-not-over-...
labs.alienvault.com/labs/index.php/2012/new-java-0day-exploited-... labs.alienvault.com · CVE Record http://labs.alienvault.com/labs/index.php/2012/new-java-0day-exploite...
community.rapid7.com/community/metasploit/blog/2012/08/27/lets-st... community.rapid7.com · CVE Record https://community.rapid7.com/community/metasploit/blog/2012/08/27/let...
deependresearch.org/2012/08/java-7-vulnerability-analysis.html deependresearch.org · CVE Record http://www.deependresearch.org/2012/08/java-7-vulnerability-analysis....
oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2012-4... oracle.com · CVE Record http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2012-4681...
immunityproducts.blogspot.com/2012/08/java-0day-analysis-cve-2012-4681.html immunityproducts.blogspot.com · CVE Record http://immunityproducts.blogspot.com/2012/08/java-0day-analysis-cve-2...

Recommended Actions

Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.

Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources

Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.

Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.

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Source	Added
CISA First	2022-03-03 00:00 UTC

Scanner Artifacts

Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/browser/java_jre17_exec.rb	Apr 28, 2025

CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1 9.8 Critical

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

CVSS v2.0 10.0 High

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Exploitation Status

Exploited in the wild

Recorded 2022-03-03 00:00:00 UTC · CISA

Used in malware

Recorded 2026-06-02 14:08:27 UTC · CISA

Proof of concept available

Recorded 2014-09-26 02:33:24 UTC · GitHub

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-284

Improper Access Control

Scanner Integrations

Scanner	Reference	Detected
Metasploit	https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/browser/java_jre17_exec.rb	Apr 28, 2025

Potential Proof of Concepts

These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

benjholla/CVE-2012-4681-Armoring

github · Created 2014-09-26 02:33:24 UTC · 1 stars

An A/V evasion armoring experiment for CVE-2012-4681

java_jre17_exec

metasploit · Created Unknown

Metasploit module for CVE-2012-4681

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Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.

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Pro API Example

GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2012-4681

{
  "cve_id": "CVE-2012-4681",
  "title": "Multiple vulnerabilities in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in O...",
  "affected_vendor": "Oracle",
  "affected_product": "Java SE",
  "affected_versions": [
    { "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
  ],
  "confidence": "Confirmed",
  "cvss_score": 9.8,
  "epss_score": null,
  "exploit_status": {
    "exploited_in_the_wild": true,
    "active_exploitation_observed": false
  },
  "sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
  "proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
  "scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}

The free JSON API returns basic KEV fields only. Confidence, telemetry, and artifact enrichment require Pro API access.

CVE-2012-4681

At a Glance

Affected Versions

CVE References

Recommended Actions

Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources

Scanner Artifacts

Virtual Patch

CVSS Scores

Exploitation Status

Weaknesses (CWE)

Scanner Integrations

Potential Proof of Concepts

Timeline

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