Arbitrary code execution via nested script engine
Published Jan 16, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
Sandbox escape in Oracle Java SE 8u391, 8u391-perf, and 11.0.21 allows attackers to execute Java code through untrusted Nashorn scripts. The --no-java option still permits a script to obtain another unrestricted Nashorn engine and evaluate Java.type to reach Java runtime APIs. Exploitation requires an application or sandboxed client to evaluate untrusted script; the public demonstration uses Runtime.exec to launch a host command.
Summary
What happened
Sandbox escape in Oracle Java SE 8u391, 8u391-perf, and 11.0.21 allows attackers to execute Java code through untrusted Nashorn scripts. The --no-java option still permits a script to obtain another unrestricted Nashorn engine and evaluate Java.type to reach Java runtime APIs. Exploitation requires an application or sandboxed client to evaluate untrusted script; the public demonstration uses Runtime.exec to launch a host command.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-20926
- Published
- Jan 16, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Oracle Corporation
- Product
- Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE)
- Classifications
- CWE-502, CWE-284, CWE-693, T1059.007
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:20.3.12
- Affected versionversion=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:21.3.8
- Affected versionversion=Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition:22.3.4
- Affected versionversion=Oracle GraalVM for JDK:17.0.9
- Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:11.0.21
- Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:8u391
- Affected versionversion=Oracle Java SE:8u391-perf
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Nashorn --no-java sandbox-bypass proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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