CVE-2026-21945: Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of O...
Vulnerability in the Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition product of Oracle Java SE (component: Security). Supported versions that are affected are Oracle Java SE: 8u471, 8u471-b50, 8u471-perf, 11.0.29, 17.0.17, 21.0.9, 25.0.1; Oracle GraalVM for JDK: 17.0.17 and 21.0.9; Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition: 21.3.16. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a hang or frequently repeatable crash (complete DOS) of Oracle Java SE, Oracle GraalVM for JDK, Oracle GraalVM Enterprise Edition. 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 does not apply to Java deployments, typically in servers, that load and run only trusted code (e.g., code installed by an administrator). CVSS 3.1 Base Score 7.5 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw can let an unauthenticated remote attacker repeatedly crash affected Java or GraalVM environments, causing a complete denial of service. The stated risk is concentrated in sandboxed client deployments that load untrusted internet code; ordinary servers loading only administrator-installed trusted code are explicitly described as unaffected.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority availability issue for exposed sandboxed client environments, especially business-critical systems where repeated crashes would disrupt operations. Prioritize exposure discovery and vendor-directed remediation. Server-only estates loading trusted code have materially lower stated urgency, but should still be inventoried to validate that assumption.
Technical view
CVE-2026-21945 is a network-reachable, low-complexity availability vulnerability requiring neither privileges nor user interaction. It carries CVSS 3.1 score 7.5 with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Successful exploitation can cause hangs or repeatable crashes, without stated confidentiality or integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where listed Oracle Java SE or GraalVM versions run sandboxed Java Web Start applications or applets and accept untrusted code. Deployments that load only trusted, administrator-installed code are outside the described scope. Confirm configuration rather than treating every Java installation as vulnerable.
Exploitation context
The source bundle marks this CVE as absent from KEV and provides no evidence of active exploitation. It describes exploitation as easy, remote, unauthenticated, and possible over multiple protocols. That assessment indicates exploitability, not confirmed attacks in the wild.
Researcher notes
The supplied material identifies CWE-295 and CWE-400 but does not describe the underlying flaw, affected protocols, proof of concept, or fixed Oracle builds. Avoid inferring code execution or data compromise: the stated impact is availability only. Red Hat publishes multiple related advisories, so downstream package status should be assessed per distribution.
Mitigation direction
Inventory affected Oracle Java SE and GraalVM versions across endpoints and applications.
Prioritize systems running sandboxed Java Web Start applications or applets with untrusted code.
Apply updates or mitigations specified by Oracle and relevant operating-system vendors.
Where immediate updating is impossible, prevent affected runtimes from loading untrusted code.
Consult vendor guidance for fixed versions; the supplied description does not identify them.
Validation and detection
Confirm installed runtime versions against the affected-version list and current vendor advisories.
Identify whether each runtime loads untrusted code or only administrator-installed trusted code.
Verify updated package versions against Oracle guidance or applicable Red Hat errata.
Review monitoring data for unexplained Java hangs, repeated crashes, and availability disruptions.
Document systems excluded from scope and the evidence supporting each exclusion.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Potential ATT&CK relevance
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
cwe · low confidence lookup
CWE-295: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
CWE-295 · source CWE mapping
Improper Certificate Validation
Improper Certificate Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Uncontrolled Resource Consumption represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.