Java Virtual MachineApplication · Microsoft

CVE-2002-1293

HIGH · 7.5 CVSS v2.0 Published 2002-11-29
Mitigation only
No fix yet — a mitigation exists. There is no fixed release. A documented workaround reduces exposure in the meantime.
See remediation →
84/100
Remediation priority · High
Remotely reachable No privileges Zero-click

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
The Microsoft Java implementation, as used in Internet Explorer, provides a public load0() method for the CabCracker class (com.ms.vm.loader.CabCracker), which allows remote attackers to bypass the security checks that are performed by the load() method.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · moderate confidence

The Microsoft Java implementation (com.ms.vm.loader.CabCracker class) in Internet Explorer contains a public load0() method that bypasses security checks performed by the load() method, allowing remote attackers to bypass Java sandbox restrictions.

MitigationDisable Java in Internet Explorer or remove the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine from affected systems, as Microsoft no longer provides patches for this legacy component.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Java Virtual MachineApplication
Affected:= 1.1

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
Partial
Availability
Partial

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Check if Microsoft Java Virtual Machine is installed
    Open Windows Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Java VM, or look for msjava.dll in system directories (System32 or Windows\System).
    Affected if The registry key exists or msjava.dll is present on the system.
  2. Determine the Microsoft Java VM version
    In the same registry location (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Java VM), look for a Version value. Alternatively, right-click msjava.dll and select Properties > Version tab.
    Affected if The version is 1.1.x (specifically 1.1).
  3. Verify the CabCracker class exists
    Search for the file CabCracker.class or com/ms/vm/loader/CabCracker.class within the Microsoft Java VM installation directory or JAR files in the Java VM path.
    Affected if The CabCracker class file is found in the Microsoft Java VM installation.
  4. Check if Java is enabled in Internet Explorer
    Open Internet Explorer > Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level. Scroll to 'Java permissions' or 'Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting'. Also check 'Microsoft VM' section in Tools > Internet Options > Advanced.
    Affected if Java is enabled (not disabled) in IE security settings.
  5. Confirm the vulnerable CabCracker.load0() method is present
    Use a Java decompiler or class file viewer to examine the CabCracker.class file. Verify that a public method named 'load0()' exists that lacks the security checks present in the load() method.
    Affected if The load0() method exists as a public method without security checks.

The system is affected if Microsoft Java Virtual Machine version 1.1 is installed with the CabCracker class present and Java is enabled in Internet Explorer, allowing the insecure load0() method to be invoked.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

From vendor data
Mitigation available No clean upgrade yet — mitigate in the meantime
Mitigation

Disable Java in Internet Explorer or remove the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine from affected systems, as Microsoft no longer provides patches for this legacy component.

Fix this in Java Virtual Machine Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation2.0 h
  • Implementation4.0 h
  • Testing2.0 h
  • Review / QA1.0 h
9.0 hours of engineering $1,600
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Scan for this in your stack

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dbcve dependency scanner

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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2002-1293 in production — separate from our analysis above.

No notes yet

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What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here
  • Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
  • No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
  • No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data