CVE-2022-21445
CVE-2022-21445 is a security flaw in Oracle ADF Faces. Attackers can run their own code on Oracle ADF Faces from anywhere, without logging in. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 18 Sep 2024.[1]
Oracle ADF Faces is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Oracle has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a deserialization of untrusted data in Oracle ADF Faces. In its words: “Oracle ADF Faces library, included with Oracle JDeveloper Distribution, contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability leading to unauthenticated remote code execution.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Vulnerability in the Oracle Application Development Framework (ADF) product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: ADF Faces). Supported versions that are affected are 12.2.1.3.0 and 12.2.1.4.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Application Development Framework (ADF). Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in takeover of Oracle Application Development Framework (ADF). Note: Oracle Application Development Framework (ADF) is downloaded via Oracle JDeveloper Product. Please refer to Fusion Middleware Patch Advisor for more details. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 9.8 (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).”[2]
The underlying weakness is deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by the organisation that published the CVE using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Oracle’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Oracle ADF Faces.
Most families won’t have Oracle ADF Faces; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 18 Sep 2024, 883 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 9 Oct 2024 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 62%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Oracle has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Oracle ADF Faces is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 9 Oct 2024 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 62%.[4] |
See also
Other Oracle flaws
- CVE-2026-21962, Oracle HTTP Server and Oracle Weblogic Server Proxy Plug-in: improper access control ·
- CVE-2026-46817, Oracle E-Business Suite: improper privilege management ·
- CVE-2026-35273, Oracle PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2024-21182, Oracle WebLogic Server: unspecified ·
- CVE-2025-61757, Oracle Fusion Middleware: missing authentication for critical function ·
Other deserialization of untrusted data flaws
- CVE-2021-23758, Ajax.NET Professional: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-63077, JetBrains TeamCity: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-50522, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-58644, Microsoft SharePoint: deserialization of untrusted data ·
- CVE-2026-45659, Microsoft SharePoint Server: deserialization of untrusted data ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-27348, Apache HugeGraph-Server: improper access control ·
- CVE-2020-14644, Oracle WebLogic Server: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2020-0618, Microsoft SQL Server: reporting services remote code execution ·
Every Oracle flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in September 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Oracle ADF Faces Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 18 Sep 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2022-21445 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 19 Apr 2022.
- ^ Oracle. Advisories and fixes: oracle.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.625, percentile 99.2, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2022-21445”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.