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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2021-39144

XStream Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Aug 23, 2021 · catalog updated Jun 16, 2026 · XStream XStream

Patch now

CVE-2021-39144 is in the CISA known-exploited catalog, due Mar 31, 2023. Confirm XStream XStream against the vendor advisory and apply that fix. The CVSS score does not change the priority.

Severity
High8.5
Known exploitation
CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
98.12%
Remediation
Remediation guidance
Affected products
cpe debian/debian linux · cpe fedoraproject/fedora · cpe netapp/snapmanager · cpe oracle/business activity monitoring · cpe xstream/xstream · vendor XStream XStream

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.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe debian/debian linux10.0
  • cpe debian/debian linux11.0
  • cpe debian/debian linux9.0
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora33
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora34
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora35
  • cpe netapp/snapmanagerversion unspecified
  • cpe oracle/business activity monitoring12.2.1.4.0
  • cpe xstream/xstreamversion unspecified
  • vendor XStream XStreamversion unspecified

How to fix CVE-2021-39144

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

CVE-2021-39144 is in the CISA known-exploited catalog, due Mar 31, 2023. Confirm XStream XStream against the vendor advisory and apply that fix. The CVSS score does not change the priority.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with debian/debian linux 10.0; debian/debian linux 11.0; debian/debian linux 9.0; oracle/business activity monitoring 12.2.1.4.0. Apply updates per vendor instructions.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function; CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data; CWE-94: Code Injection. EPSS 98.12%. The CISA KEV listing is the exploitation evidence. A public exploit reference is linked in Sources. That is not the same as confirmed exploitation. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Aug 23, 2021 · Catalog

    Detected

    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.

  2. Mar 10, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Mar 31, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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.

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2021-39144

    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.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2021-39144

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2021-39144

    30-day exploitation probability 98.1%

    first.org
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_linux/http/vmware_nsxmgr_xstream_rce_cve_2021_39144

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2021-39144

    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

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169859/VMware-NSX-Manager-XStream-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2021-39144

    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

    vulncheck.com

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 17, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.