CVE-2012-4681: Oracle Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability

100

Patch now

CRITICAL 9.8EXPLOITEDREMOTEWATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2012-4681 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting jdk, jre, enterprise linux desktop, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Used in ransomware campaigns
Public exploit reference
CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	98.5% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-03-24, used in ransomware
Weakness	CWE-284
Published	2012-08-28
Last modified	2026-08-06

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: oracle · redhat

Last updated 2026-08-06 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2012-08-28 00:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-03-03Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-03-24Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-08-06 05:16 UTCUpdated Record last modified

oracle jdk DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.6.0 · 1.6.0 update1 · 1.6.0 update10 · 1.6.0 update11 · 1.6.0 update12 · 1.6.0 update13 · 1.6.0 update14 · 1.6.0 update15

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.6.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy jdk || rpm -q jdk || jdk --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.6.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison jdk sudo apt install jdk=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.6.0> sudo apt-mark hold jdk

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list jdk sudo dnf downgrade jdk-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.6.0> sudo dnf versionlock add jdk

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

oracle jre DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.6.0 · 1.6.0 update1 · 1.6.0 update10 · 1.6.0 update11 · 1.6.0 update12 · 1.6.0 update13 · 1.6.0 update14 · 1.6.0 update15

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.6.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy jre || rpm -q jre || jre --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.6.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison jre sudo apt install jre=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.6.0> sudo apt-mark hold jre

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list jre sudo dnf downgrade jre-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.6.0> sudo dnf versionlock add jre

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux eus MITIGATE

Affected: 6.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.3

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux server MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux workstation MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · beakerlib · FIXED · 1.33.4-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-e95a8fc2ef · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-e95a8fc2ef

Fedora ELN · createrepo_c · FIXED · 1.2.6-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-8bb3ba60b2 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-8bb3ba60b2

RHEL 6 · java-1.7.0-openjdk · FIXED · java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.5-2.2.1.el6_3.3

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2012:1223 rpm -q java-1.7.0-openjdk

RHEL 5 · java-1.6.0-ibm · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 5 · java-1.6.0-openjdk · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 5 · java-1.6.0-sun · NOT AFFECTED

RHEL 5 · java-1.7.0-openjdk · NO FIX YET

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: benjholla/CVE-2012-4681-Armoring (1 stars)
GitHub PoC: ZH3FENG/PoCs-CVE_2012_4681 (0 stars)
Write-up: community.rapid7.com/community/metasploit/blog/2012/08/27/lets-start-the-week-with-a-new-j
GitHub PoC: Live-Hack-CVE/CVE-2012-4681
Exploit-DB: Java 7 Applet - Remote Code Execution (Metasploit)
Metasploit: Java 7 Applet Remote Code Execution

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2012-4681?

jdk: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; jre: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; enterprise linux desktop: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2012-4681 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2012-4681 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2012-4681 affect?

CVE-2012-4681 affects jdk, jre, enterprise linux desktop. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). 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

How urgent is CVE-2012-4681?

Priority 100/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Used in ransomware campaigns; Public exploit reference; CISA SSVC: automatable with total technical impact; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

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References

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