CVEs / CVE-2021-39144
CVE-2021-39144: XStream Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 10 Mar 2023
- high 8.5 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
- EPSS 98.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
- Last changed at its sources
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Summary
XStream contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows an attacker to manipulate the processed input stream and replace or inject objects that result in the execution of a local command on the server. This vulnerability can affect multiple products, including but not limited to VMware Cloud Foundation.
Description
XStream is a simple library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In affected versions this vulnerability may allow a remote attacker has sufficient rights to execute commands of the host only by manipulating the processed input stream. No user is affected, who followed the recommendation to setup XStream's security framework with a whitelist limited to the minimal required types. XStream 1.4.18 uses no longer a blacklist by default, since it cannot be secured for general purpose.
Affected and fixed versions
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| x-stream xstream | < 1.4.18 | — |
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream (Maven) | before 1.4.18 | 1.4.18 |
Package versions from GHSA-j9h8-phrw-h4fh.
Exploitation
| In CISA KEV since | 10 Mar 2023 |
|---|---|
| Due date for US federal agencies | 31 Mar 2023 |
| Used in ransomware campaigns | Unknown |
| Required action | Apply updates per vendor instructions. |
Severity
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.5 highCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HScored by NVD |
|---|---|
| Weakness | CWE-94, CWE-502, CWE-306 |
References
- CVE-2021-39144 on NVD
- CVE-2021-39144 in the CISA KEV catalog
- https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2022-0027.html (cited by CISA)
- https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-39144.html (cited by CISA)
- CVE-2021-39144 on OSV
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169859/VMware-NSX-Manager-XStream-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-j9h8-phrw-h4fh Vendor Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/09/msg00017.html Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22KVR6B5IZP3BGQ3HPWIO2FWWCKT3DHP/ Broken Link, Mailing List, Release Notes
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7/ Broken Link, Mailing List, Release Notes
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB/ Broken Link, Mailing List, Release Notes
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210923-0003/ Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5004 Third Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html Patch, Third Party Advisory
- https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-39144.html Exploit, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-39144 US Government Resource
Sources
Exploitation status from the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS scores from FIRST. Descriptions, severity and references from the National Vulnerability Database. Open-source package versions from OSV (CC-BY 4.0). Text is shown as each source states it; Stackurity does not edit it. Check the vendor's advisory before acting.
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.