# CVE-2013-2423: Oracle JRE Unspecified

> Remote attackers can bypass security manager restrictions via type confusion in HotSpot, enabling privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 25 May 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Apr 2013
- **Updated:** 22 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wq4h-35pf-mp23

## What is CVE-2013-2423?

CVE-2013-2423 is a low-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 Apr 2013. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-2423?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Opensuse Opensuse, Oracle Jre.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-2423?

Apply the vendor's patch. US federal agencies must fix it by 15 Jun 2022.

## Is CVE-2013-2423 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2013-2423 in the wild since at least 25 May 2022.

Public exploit code:

- Java Applet Reflection Type Confusion Remote Code Execution (metasploit)
- Java Applet - Reflection Type Confusion Remote Code Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-2423 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-2423 is a low-severity vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 17 Apr 2013. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2013-2423 in the wild since at least 25 May 2022.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2423/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2423/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-2423
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-2423
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-2423

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2423/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.