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CVE-2021-39149· NVD / CVE Program· CNA GitHub_M

XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack

XStream is a simple library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In affected versions this vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to load and execute arbitrary code from a remote 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.

HighCVSS 8.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Aug 23, 2021
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
4.7% · 92th percentile
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Report tools

JSON

Action score

35

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
34 / 40 · 8.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
1 / 30 · 4.7%

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
8.5
CNA · GitHub_M
8.5
agree

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Affected systems

VendorProduct
xstreamxstream
fedoraprojectfedora
debiandebian linux
netappsnapmanager
oraclebusiness activity monitoring
oraclecommerce guided search
oraclecommunications billing and revenue management elastic charging engine
oraclecommunications cloud native core automated test suite
oraclecommunications cloud native core binding support function
oraclecommunications cloud native core policy
oraclecommunications unified inventory management
oracleretail xstore point of service

and 3 more

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • debian debian linux10.0
  • debian debian linux11.0
  • debian debian linux9.0
  • fedoraproject fedora33
  • fedoraproject fedora34
  • fedoraproject fedora35
  • netapp snapmanagerall versions
  • oracle business activity monitoring12.2.1.4.0
  • oracle commerce guided search11.3.2
  • oracle communications billing and revenue management elastic charging engine11.3
  • oracle communications billing and revenue management elastic charging engine12.0
  • oracle communications cloud native core automated test suite1.9.0
  • oracle communications cloud native core binding support function1.10.0
  • oracle communications cloud native core policy1.14.0
  • oracle communications unified inventory management7.3.4
  • oracle communications unified inventory management7.3.5
  • oracle communications unified inventory management7.4.0
  • oracle communications unified inventory management7.4.1
  • oracle communications unified inventory management7.4.2
  • oracle retail xstore point of service16.0.6

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

    • < 1.4.18affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:10libxstream-javabefore 1.4.11.1-1+deb10u31.4.11.1-1+deb10u3
Debian:11libxstream-javabefore 1.4.15-3+deb11u11.4.15-3+deb11u1
Debian:12libxstream-javabefore 1.4.18-11.4.18-1
Debian:9libxstream-javabefore 1.4.11.1-1+deb9u41.4.11.1-1+deb9u4
Mavencom.thoughtworks.xstream:xstreambefore 1.4.181.4.18
openSUSE:Leap 15.2xstreambefore 1.4.18-lp152.2.12.11.4.18-lp152.2.12.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.3xstreambefore 1.4.18-3.14.11.4.18-3.14.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientxstreambefore 0:1.3.1-16.el7_90:1.3.1-16.el7_9
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientxstream-javadocbefore 0:1.3.1-16.el7_90:1.3.1-16.el7_9
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2xstreambefore 1.4.18-3.14.11.4.18-3.14.1

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2021-39144XStream is vulnerable to a Remote Command Execution attackKEV
    93Now
  • 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 attack
    62This week
  • CVE-2021-21344XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack
    62This week
  • CVE-2021-21351XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack
    61This 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 / packageFixed versionSource
debian:libxstream-java1.4.18-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
Maven:com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream1.4.18Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:xstream1.4.18-lp152.2.12.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.2Package registry (OSV)
red hat:xstream0:1.3.1-16.el7_9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:xstream-javadoc0:1.3.1-16.el7_9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
suse:xstream1.4.18-3.14.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

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.

No dated events beyond publication.

EPSS, last 120 days

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.

Finders, 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.
  • A low-privileged account is enough.
  • No user action is required.
  • Special conditions such as timing or configuration are required.

If successful

Confidentiality
high · data can be read
Integrity
high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted

Impact can extend beyond the vulnerable component (scope changes).

Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
High
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
High
Availability impact
High

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

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.

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Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

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References

All records