CVE-2003-0896

CVE-2003-0896 is a high-severity vulnerability in Sun Jre with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 14% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation.

Key facts

Description

The loadClass method of the sun.applet.AppletClassLoader class in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) in Sun SDK and JRE 1.4.1_03 and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass sandbox restrictions and execute arbitrary code via a loaded class name that contains "/" (slash) instead of "." (dot) characters, which bypasses a call to the Security Manager's checkPackageAccess method.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2003-0896?
The loadClass method of the sun.applet.AppletClassLoader class in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) in Sun SDK and JRE 1.4.1_03 and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass sandbox restrictions and execute arbitrary code via a loaded class name that contains "/" (slash) instead of "." (dot) characters, which bypasses a call to the Security Manager's checkPackageAccess method.
How severe is CVE-2003-0896?
CVE-2003-0896 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2003-0896 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 14% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2003-0896?
CVE-2003-0896 affects Sun Jre. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2003-0896?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2003-0896 published?
CVE-2003-0896 was published on 2003-11-17 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

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