# What is CVE-2013-2423?

> CVE-2013-2423 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 3.7) in JRE from Oracle, published on 17 April 2013. It is on the list of flaws known to be exploited, so criminals are already using it. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 85%. If you run an affected version, patch it first.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2013-2423

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Fix this now. Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 74 out of 100 (High); action: Emergency patch. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Low (CVSS 3.7 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** Yes, it is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 85% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 17 April 2013
- **Record last updated:** 16 June 2026
- **Main product:** JRE from Oracle
- **Affected products:** 3

## What is CVE-2013-2423? In plain terms

It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can change some data.

### The 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.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-284: Improper Access Control

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet
- How hard it is to pull off: Hard: conditions must line up
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can change some data

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N`

## Is CVE-2013-2423 being exploited? Yes

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 85%.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 85%, 85%, 85%, 85%, 85%, 85%, 85%.

### Timeline

- 17 April 2013: Published
- 16 June 2026: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2013-2423 scores **74 out of 100 (High)**, with the action "Emergency patch".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2013-2423?

The published record lists 3 products.

- [JRE](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/oracle/jre) by [Oracle](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/oracle) (Application): 1.7.0, 1.7.0-update1, 1.7.0-update2, 1.7.0-update3, 1.7.0-update4, 1.7.0-update5, 1.7.0-update6, 1.7.0-update7, 1.7.0-update9, 1.7.0-update10, 1.7.0-update11, 1.7.0-update13, 1.7.0-update15
- [Opensuse](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/opensuse/opensuse) by [Opensuse](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/opensuse) (Operating system): 12.3
- [Ubuntu Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/canonical/ubuntu_linux) by [Canonical](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/canonical) (Operating system): 12.10

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

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Check it wasn’t used before you patched.** Because criminals are already using this flaw, look for signs of a break-in on affected systems using the vendor’s guidance.

### References

- [hg.openjdk.java.net](http://hg.openjdk.java.net/jdk7u/jdk7u-dev/jdk/rev/b453d9be6b3f) (Patch)
- [oracle.com](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/javacpuapr2013-1928497.html) (Vendor advisory)
- [blog.fuseyism.com](http://blog.fuseyism.com/index.php/2013/04/22/security-icedtea-2-3-9-for-openjdk-7-released/) (Broken link)
- [blog.spiderlabs.com](http://blog.spiderlabs.com/2013/04/java-is-so-confusing.html) (Not applicable)
- [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2013-06/msg00099.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [rhn.redhat.com](http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0752.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [rhn.redhat.com](http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0757.html) (Third-party advisory)
- [security.gentoo.org](http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201406-32.xml) (Third-party advisory)
- [weblog.ikvm.net](http://weblog.ikvm.net/PermaLink.aspx?guid=acd2dd6d-1028-4996-95df-efa42ac237f0) (Broken link)
- [exploit-db.com](http://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/24976) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [mandriva.com](http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:161) (Third-party advisory)
- [ubuntu.com](http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1806-1) (Third-party advisory)
- [us-cert.gov](http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-107A) (Third-party advisory, Government resource)
- [bugzilla.redhat.com](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=952398) (Issue tracking)
- [oval.cisecurity.org](https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16700) (Broken link)
- [wiki.mageia.org](https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Support/Advisories/MGASA-2013-0130) (Third-party advisory)
- [cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-2423) (Government resource)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2013-2423?

CVE-2013-2423 is a low-severity flaw in JRE from Oracle, published on 17 April 2013. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can change some data.

### How serious is CVE-2013-2423?

It scores 3.7 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is low. Our risk score for CVE-2013-2423 is 74 out of 100, which is High. Its action is "Emergency patch". Attackers are using this flaw today. If you run an affected version, it goes to the top of your list.

### Is CVE-2013-2423 being exploited?

Attackers are already using it. It is on the government list of flaws known to be exploited, and the latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 85%.

### Which versions does CVE-2013-2423 affect?

For JRE from Oracle: 1.7.0, 1.7.0-update1, 1.7.0-update2, 1.7.0-update3, 1.7.0-update4, 1.7.0-update5 and 7 more. The record lists 3 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

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

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. Because criminals are already using it, also check affected systems for signs of a break-in.

## Does CVE-2013-2423 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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