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

> CVE-2012-4681: Oracle Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability. CVSS 9.8 (CVSS 3.1), in CISA KEV.

Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2012-4681
Last updated: 2026-08-06T03:55:26Z

- Published: 2012-08-28 00:00 UTC · Updated: 2026-08-06 03:55 UTC · Assigner: mitre
- CVSS: 9.8 (CVSS 3.1) · Severity: Critical · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS: 98.5%, 100th percentile (scored 2026-10-25)
- CISA KEV: yes, added 2022-03-03, federal due date 2022-03-24, ransomware use: Known

## 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.

## CISA required action

Apply updates per vendor instructions.

## Affected vendors and products

- Oracle: Java SE

## References

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

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_Sources: CVE records from the CVE Program (cve.org). CVE® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. (https://www.cve.org/) This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. (https://nvd.nist.gov/) Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog from CISA. (https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) EPSS scores from FIRST (Exploit Prediction Scoring System). (https://www.first.org/epss/)_


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Canonical: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2012-4681 · Markdown: https://rewindex.com/cve/CVE-2012-4681.md · JSON: https://rewindex.com/api/v1/cves/CVE-2012-4681 · Data licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) · Generated 2026-10-26T02:44:15.578Z