CVE-2022-21541 in Java SE
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2022
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Hotspot). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 7u343, 8u333, 11.0.15.1, 17.0.3.1, 18.0.1.1; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 20.3.6, 21.3.2 and 22.1.0. Difficult to exploit 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 creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all 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 5.9 (Integrity impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
This vulnerability resides within the Hotspot component of Oracle Java SE and Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition, representing a significant security weakness that affects multiple version streams including Java SE 7u343, 8u333, 11.0.15.1, 17.0.3.1, and 18.0.1.1 along with GraalVM versions 20.3.6, 21.3.2, and 22.1.0. The vulnerability is classified as difficult to exploit yet remains a serious concern due to its potential for unauthorized data manipulation. The CVSS 3.1 scoring system rates this issue at 5.9 severity with a base score that reflects integrity impacts, indicating that while the attack vector requires some sophistication, the consequences can be severe for affected systems. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an unauthenticated attacker with network access through multiple protocols, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors who can leverage network-based attack vectors to compromise systems running vulnerable Java implementations.
The technical flaw manifests in how the Hotspot JVM component handles certain code execution scenarios, particularly within sandboxed environments where untrusted code is loaded and executed. This vulnerability specifically targets deployments that utilize Java Web Start applications or Java applets, which operate under sandbox restrictions designed to prevent unauthorized system access. The security model relies on these sandbox mechanisms to isolate potentially malicious code, but this vulnerability demonstrates a weakness in the implementation that allows attackers to bypass these protective measures. The issue becomes particularly dangerous when considering that Java deployments often execute code from untrusted sources, such as internet-based applications, making the sandbox protection ineffective against this particular flaw. The vulnerability's impact extends to critical data manipulation capabilities, allowing attackers to create, delete, or modify sensitive information within the scope of accessible data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations running affected Java implementations, particularly those with legacy systems or applications that depend on older Java versions. The fact that this vulnerability can be exploited through APIs within the specified component means that web services relying on Java functionality become potential attack vectors. Organizations using Java-based web applications, enterprise systems, or any deployment that loads untrusted code from external sources face heightened risk of data compromise. The vulnerability's classification as affecting integrity impacts suggests that attackers could modify critical system data or application information without detection, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or manipulation of business-critical processes. The sandboxed nature of the targeted environments makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it undermines the fundamental security model that these environments rely upon.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the latest Oracle security updates, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable Java versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Network segmentation and firewall rule reviews become essential defensive measures to limit potential attack surfaces, particularly for systems that must continue running vulnerable versions temporarily. Implementation of additional security controls such as application whitelisting, runtime application self-protection mechanisms, and enhanced monitoring of Java process activities can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application layer execution and CWE-242 for use of potentially dangerous function, emphasizing the need for both defensive measures and ongoing security monitoring. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify any remaining exposure points and ensure complete remediation across all affected environments.