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NVD / CVE Program· CNA GitHub_M

CVE-2021-39144: XStream is vulnerable to a Remote Command Execution attack

HighCVSS 8.5 · v3.1KEVWeaponized Fix available

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Now (action score 93/100)

  • CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (Mar 10, 2023). Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Mar 31, 2023.
  • A ready-made attack module is public (Metasploit, Nuclei); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 98.1% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.9% of all records.
  • 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.
  • Fixed version: libxstream-java (Debian:10) 1.4.11.1-1+deb10u3; libxstream-java (Debian:11) 1.4.15-3+deb11u1; libxstream-java (Debian:12) 1.4.18-1.
  • Mentioned 2 times in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).

Patch today or shut off access. Upgrade to libxstream-java (Debian:10) 1.4.11.1-1+deb10u3; libxstream-java (Debian:11) 1.4.15-3+deb11u1; libxstream-java (Debian:12) 1.4.18-1 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · CISA KEV · FIRST EPSS

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.

Published
Aug 23, 2021
Updated
Jun 17, 2026
EPSS
98.1% · 99th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

93

Now

Patch today or shut off access.

CVSS
34 / 40 · 8.5 / 10
CISA KEV
30 / 30 · Listed
EPSS
29 / 30 · 98.1%

CISA SSVC decision

Exploitation
active
Automatable
no
Technical impact
total

Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.

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.

Actively exploited in the wild

CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 10, 2023. That signals real attacks, not theory.

Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Mar 31, 2023.

Get told when this record changes

  • In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
  • Weaponized exploit exists
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

Follow CVE-2021-39144

When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
xstreamxstream
debiandebian linux
fedoraprojectfedora
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

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
Affected versions · NVD (20)

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

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
openSUSE:Tumbleweedxstreambefore 1.4.18-1.11.4.18-1.1
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

Same product

xstream: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • 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

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-21351Mar 23, 2021 · XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack
    61This week
  • ← EarlierCVE-2021-29505May 28, 2021 · XStream is vulnerable to a Remote Command Execution attack
    58Plan
  • Later →CVE-2021-39139Aug 23, 2021 · XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack
    36Monitor

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

Weaponized

A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.

Evidence

  • Metasploit module ×1
  • Nuclei detection template ×1

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.

Public exploit evidence
SourceKindDate
Metasploit moduleexploit/linux/http/vmware_nsxmgr_xstream_rce_cve_2021_39144VMware NSX Manager XStream unauthenticated RCEexploit2022-10-25
Nuclei detection templateNuclei template CVE-2021-39144 —

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.

  1. Published
  2. Metasploit+427 d
  3. CISA KEV+563 d
  4. TodayNov 14, 2026+1908 d

National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)

Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.

All national notices →

Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.

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

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-94 · Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

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.

References

Show all references (10 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records