CVE-2022-21296 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 01/19/2022
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: JAXP). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 7u321, 8u311, 11.0.13, 17.0.1; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.4 and 21.3.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized read access to a subset of Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition accessible data. Note: This vulnerability applies to Java deployments, typically in clients running sandboxed Java Web Start applications or sandboxed Java applets, that load and run untrusted code (e.g., code that comes from the internet) and rely on the Java sandbox for security. This vulnerability can also be exploited by using APIs in the specified Component, e.g., through a web service which supplies data to the APIs. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 5.3 (Confidentiality impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21296 represents a significant security weakness within the Java XML Processing (JAXP) component of Oracle Java SE and GraalVM Enterprise Edition. This flaw resides in the XML parsing functionality that forms part of the core Java platform's capabilities for processing extensible markup language documents. The vulnerability affects multiple supported versions including Java SE 7u321, 8u311, 11.0.13, and 17.01, as well as GraalVM Enterprise Edition versions 20.3.4 and 21.3.0, indicating a broad impact across the Java ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification as easily exploitable means that attackers can leverage it without requiring authentication or specialized privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Java applications process untrusted input from external sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation within the JAXP processing pipeline, specifically when handling certain XML constructs that trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying parsing mechanisms. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate XML data in ways that bypass normal security boundaries, particularly affecting the sandboxed execution environments that are fundamental to Java's security model. The vulnerability's impact is primarily confined to confidentiality, enabling unauthorized read access to sensitive data that would normally be protected by the Java sandbox. The CVSS score of 5.3 reflects the moderate severity of this issue, as it does not permit privilege escalation or system compromise but rather allows for data exfiltration from applications running in sandboxed environments.
The operational implications of CVE-2022-21296 extend beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that Java applications rely upon for security isolation. This vulnerability particularly affects deployments where Java Web Start applications or applets execute untrusted code from the internet, creating a direct attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability's exploitation through web services and APIs demonstrates how it can be leveraged in modern cloud and distributed computing environments where Java components interact with external data sources. Organizations running Java applications in production environments face significant risk if they have not patched this vulnerability, as it can be exploited through multiple network protocols without requiring any user interaction or authentication credentials. The attack vector through network access (AV:N) combined with low attack complexity (AC:L) makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to automated exploit tools.
Security professionals should prioritize patching affected systems immediately, as this vulnerability can be exploited by threat actors without any specialized knowledge or access privileges. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches from Oracle that address the specific JAXP processing flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual XML processing patterns or unexpected data access patterns. The vulnerability's relationship to CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and its alignment with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) highlights the need for comprehensive security controls beyond simple patch management. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting and restricting network access to Java applications that process external XML data, as these measures can provide additional defense in depth against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing complex application frameworks where multiple components interact in ways that can create unexpected security gaps.