CVE-2022-21540Network attack vector

Sandbox escape via HotSpot use-after-free

Published Jul 19, 2022 · Updated May 27, 2026

Use-after-free in Oracle Java SE HotSpot allows remote attackers to read a subset of accessible data through untrusted Java code. HotSpot class-code generation accesses freed memory while compiling attacker-controlled code, allowing Java sandbox restrictions to be bypassed. Reachability requires sandboxed Java code from an untrusted source or a service that passes attacker-controlled data to affected HotSpot APIs; the reported consequence is limited data disclosure.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability3.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Oracle Java SE HotSpot allows remote attackers to read a subset of accessible data through untrusted Java code. HotSpot class-code generation accesses freed memory while compiling attacker-controlled code, allowing Java sandbox restrictions to be bypassed. Reachability requires sandboxed Java code from an untrusted source or a service that passes attacker-controlled data to affected HotSpot APIs; the reported consequence is limited data disclosure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-21540
Published
Jul 19, 2022
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
Oracle Corporation
Product
Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE)
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:20.3.6
  2. Affected versionversion=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:21.3.2
  3. Affected versionversion=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:22.1.0
  4. Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:11.0.15.1
  5. Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:17.0.3.1
  6. Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:18.0.1.1
  7. Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:7u343
  8. Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:8u333

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Oracle Corporation · Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE)version=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:20.3.6; version=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:21.3.2; version=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:22.1.0; version=Oracle Java SE:11.0.15.1; version=Oracle Java SE:17.0.3.1; version=Oracle Java SE:18.0.1.1; version=Oracle Java SE:7u343; version=Oracle Java SE:8u333

Published CVSS scores

5.3Oracle CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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