# CVE-2018-12539: Missing authorization in Eclipse OpenJ9

> Local users can execute arbitrary native code via the Java Attach API, which is enabled by default on multiple platforms.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Aug 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8xmg-5xjr-x475

## What is CVE-2018-12539?

CVE-2018-12539 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Oracle Enterprise Manager Base Platform, published on 14 Aug 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Eclipse OpenJ9 version 0.8, users other than the process owner may be able to use Java Attach API to connect to an Eclipse OpenJ9 or IBM JVM on the same machine and use Attach API operations, which includes the ability to execute untrusted native code. Attach API is enabled by default on Windows, Linux and AIX JVMs and can be disabled using the command line option -Dcom.ibm.tools.attach.enable=no.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data), CWE-419 (Unprotected Primary Channel)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-12539?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Eclipse Openj9, Oracle Enterprise Manager Base Platform.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-12539?

Change a configuration setting.

## Is CVE-2018-12539 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12539 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Oracle Enterprise Manager Base Platform

- [CVE-2021-41035](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41035/): Security feature bypass in Eclipse OMR (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-27221](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27221/): Memory corruption in Eclipse OpenJ9 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-11772](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11772/): Memory corruption in Eclipse OpenJ9 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-12547](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12547/): Memory corruption in Eclipse OpenJ9 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-12549](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12549/): Null dereference in Eclipse OpenJ9 (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-12539 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-12539 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Oracle Enterprise Manager Base Platform, published on 14 Aug 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12539 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Oracle Enterprise Manager Base Platform. 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-2018-12539/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12539/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12539
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12539
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-12539

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12539/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.