Some change in 10.9 is preventing the JCP from being able to perform tasks that require admin privileges. This affects both 7u and 8 and seems to be affecting all builds/versions.

I see this following in the system log:
11/27/13 11:25:56.639 AM launchservicesd[96]: Application App:"Java Control Panel" asn:0x0-36036 pid:643 refs=8 @ 0x7f8550527d20 tried to be brought forward, but isn't in fPermittedFrontApps ( ( "LSApplication:0x0-0x3a03a pid=664 "SecurityAgent"")), so denying. : LASSession.cp #1481 SetFrontApplication() q=LSSession 100006/0x186a6 queue
11/27/13 11:25:56.639 AM WindowServer[108]: [cps/setfront] Failed setting the front application to Java Control Panel, psn 0x0-0x36036, securitySessionID=0x186a6, err=-13066
11/27/13 11:25:56.651 AM launchdadd[666]: FAILURE: Job com.oracle.java.deployment.Helper is not loaded in launchd.
11/27/13 11:25:56.651 AM java[643]: Starting job
11/27/13 11:25:56.654 AM java[643]: Job completed



Additionally, the Helper-Tool is having some issue:
11/27/13 11:17:53.554 AM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool) Job should be able to exec(3) now.
11/27/13 11:17:53.645 AM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool[368]) Exited with code: 1
11/27/13 11:17:53.717 AM com.apple.launchd[1]: (com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool) Throttling respawn: Will start in 10 seconds

This is the core issue that's causing other issues being noticed on 10.9. Those other issues will be linked.