XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Deletion on the local host when unmarshalling
XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In XStream before version 1.4.15, is vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Deletion on the local host when unmarshalling. The vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to delete arbitrary know files on the host as log as the executing process has sufficient rights only by manipulating the processed input stream. If you rely on XStream's default blacklist of the Security Framework, you will have to use at least version 1.4.15. The reported vulnerability does not exist running Java 15 or higher. No user is affected, who followed the recommendation to setup XStream's Security Framework with a whitelist! Anyone relying on XStream's default blacklist can immediately switch to a whilelist for the allowed types to avoid the vulnerability. Users of XStream 1.4.14 or below who still want to use XStream default blacklist can use a workaround described in more detailed in the referenced advisories.
- Published
- Dec 15, 2020
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 82.4% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-78
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Report tools
Action score
52
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 27 / 40 · 6.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 25 / 30 · 82.4%
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 6.8
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 6.8
- agree
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| xstream | xstream | cpe:2.3:a:xstream:xstream |
| apache | struts | cpe:2.3:a:apache:struts |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
| fedoraproject | fedora | cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- apache strutsbefore 6.0.0
- debian debian linux10.0
- debian debian linux9.0
- fedoraproject fedora33
- fedoraproject fedora34
- fedoraproject fedora35
- xstream xstreambefore 1.4.15
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
x-stream xstream
- < 1.4.15affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:10 | libxstream-java | before 1.4.11.1-1+deb10u2 | 1.4.11.1-1+deb10u2 |
| Debian:12 | libxstream-java | before 1.4.15-1 | 1.4.15-1 |
| Debian:9 | libxstream-java | before 1.4.11.1-1+deb9u1 | 1.4.11.1-1+deb9u1 |
| Maven | com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream | before 1.4.15 | 1.4.15 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | xstream | before 1.4.15-lp152.2.3.1 | 1.4.15-lp152.2.3.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | xstream | before 1.4.18-1.1 | 1.4.18-1.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | xstream | before 1.4.15-3.3.2 | 1.4.15-3.3.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | mgr-osad | before 4.1.5-2.9.4 | 4.1.5-2.9.4 |
| SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | rhnlib | before 4.1.3-4.3.2 | 4.1.3-4.3.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | spacewalk-backend | before 4.1.21-4.22.7 | 4.1.21-4.22.7 |
| SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | spacewalk-client-tools | before 4.1.9-4.12.4 | 4.1.9-4.12.4 |
| SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | spacewalk-proxy | before 4.1.4-3.9.4 | 4.1.4-3.9.4 |
| SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | spacewalk-proxy-installer | before 4.1.6-3.3.2 | 4.1.6-3.3.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | spacewalk-web | before 4.1.23-3.18.6 | 4.1.23-3.18.6 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | cobbler | before 3.0.0+git20190806.32c4bae0-5.6.4 | 3.0.0+git20190806.32c4bae0-5.6.4 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | grafana-formula | before 0.4.0-3.6.2 | 0.4.0-3.6.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | mgr-libmod | before 4.1.7-3.16.2 | 4.1.7-3.16.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | prometheus-exporters-formula | before 0.9.0-3.19.2 | 0.9.0-3.19.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | prometheus-formula | before 0.3.1-3.6.2 | 0.3.1-3.6.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | py26-compat-salt | before 2016.11.10-6.11.2 | 2016.11.10-6.11.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | smdba | before 1.7.8-0.3.6.2 | 1.7.8-0.3.6.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | spacewalk-config | before 4.1.5-3.3.2 | 4.1.5-3.3.2 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | spacewalk-java | before 4.1.30-3.31.7 | 4.1.30-3.31.7 |
| SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | spacewalk-utils | before 4.1.14-3.12.2 | 4.1.14-3.12.2 |
+8
Same product
xstream: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-39144XStream is vulnerable to a Remote Command Execution attackKEV93Now
- CVE-2019-10173It was found that xstream API version 1.4.10 before 1.4.11 introduced a regression for a previous deserialization flaw.68This week
- CVE-2013-7285Xstream API versions up to 1.4.6 and version 1.4.10, if the security framework has not been initialized, may allow a remote attacker to run 64This week
- CVE-2021-21346XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack62This week
- CVE-2021-21344XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack62This week
- CVE-2021-21351XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack61This week
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:libxstream-java | 1.4.15-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| Maven:com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream | 1.4.15 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:xstream | 1.4.15-lp152.2.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:cobbler | 3.0.0+git20190806.32c4bae0-5.6.4 · SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:grafana-formula | 0.4.0-3.6.2 · SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:mgr-libmod | 4.1.7-3.16.2 · SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:mgr-osad | 4.1.5-2.9.4 · SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:prometheus-exporters-formula | 0.9.0-3.19.2 · SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:rhnlib | 4.1.3-4.3.2 · SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-backend | 4.1.21-4.22.7 · SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-client-tools | 4.1.9-4.12.4 · SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-proxy | 4.1.4-3.9.4 · SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-proxy-installer | 4.1.6-3.3.2 · SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:spacewalk-web | 4.1.23-3.18.6 · SUSE:Manager Proxy Module 4.1 | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:xstream | 1.4.15-3.3.2 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Proof of concept available
A public proof of concept or detection signature exists. Exploit knowledge is out there; don't delay patching.
Evidence
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×3
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:25 | 2020-12-13 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2021-01-22 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2025-07-11 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- First PoC-3 d
- Published
- TodaySep 30, 2026+2115 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- none
Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- High
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Changed
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- None
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-78 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
nvd-primary
Root cause
User input is inserted as text into a shell command. The shell may interpret special characters in the input as part of the command.
The bug in code
The whole CWE-78 classA representative example of this vulnerability class. Not the vendor's source code; it shows the faulty pattern and its fix.
Vulnerable
const host = req.body.host;exec("ping -c 1 " + host, onResult);Fixed
const host = req.body.host;if (!/^[a-z0-9.-]{1,253}$/i.test(host)) return res.sendStatus(400);execFile("ping", ["-c", "1", host], onResult);Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Command Line Execution through SQL InjectionCAPEC-108likelihood: Low · Very High
- Command DelimitersCAPEC-15likelihood: High · High
- Exploiting Multiple Input Interpretation LayersCAPEC-43likelihood: Medium · High
- Argument InjectionCAPEC-6likelihood: High · High
- OS Command InjectionCAPEC-88likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-jfvx-7wrx-43fh
- lists.apache.org/thread.html/r97993e3d78e1f5389b7b172ba9f308440830ce5f051ee62714a0aa34%40%3Ccommits.struts.apache.org%3E
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/12/msg00042.html
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22KVR6B5IZP3BGQ3HPWIO2FWWCKT3DHP/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB/
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210409-0005/
- www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4828
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.