Assessment
Why it matters
CISA lists this vulnerability as known to be exploited; exploitation is confirmed; EPSS is 97.6%; technical severity is CVSS 9.8.
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.
Who should care
- Teams operating Ubuntu Linux, Opensuse, Java Runtime Environment (JRE) +2 more
- Vulnerability and exposure management teams
- Security operations teams monitoring exploitation activity
Response plan
What I would do
- Confirm whether Ubuntu Linux, Opensuse, Java Runtime Environment (JRE) +2 more is present in the environment.
- Identify affected versions and establish whether vulnerable services are exposed or reachable.
- Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Review relevant security telemetry for evidence of attempted or successful exploitation.
- Document the remediation decision and track it to verified completion.
Vendor remediation
Patch and remediation links
Use the vendor source below to confirm the correct fixed version, package or mitigation for your affected product.
Technical details
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CWE
- CWE-284
- Affected versions
- Canonical Ubuntu Linux (Version: 12.10); Opensuse Opensuse (Version: 12.2); Oracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE); Oracle Jdk (Version: 1.7.0); Oracle Jre (Version: 1.7.0)
- Published
- 10 January 2013
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
Signal timeline
- CVE published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Latest EPSS score: 97.6%
- Signal calculated at 88
External references
- Government advisory from www.cisa.gov
- Third-party advisory from immunityproducts.blogspot.ca
- Third-party advisory from krebsonsecurity.com
- Third-party advisory from lists.opensuse.org
- Third-party advisory from malware.dontneedcoffee.com
- Third-party advisory from rhn.redhat.com
- Third-party advisory from rhn.redhat.com
- Third-party advisory from seclists.org
- Government advisory from www.kb.cert.org
- Vendor advisory from www.oracle.com
- Third-party advisory from www.ubuntu.com
- Government advisory from www.us-cert.gov