CVE-2021-29505: Xstream XStream Is Vulnerable To A Vulnerability

Q: What is CVE-2021-29505?

CVE-2021-29505 is a security vulnerability in Xstream involving XStream is vulnerable to a Remote Command Execution attack under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.

Q: Which Xstream versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.17 across affected packages: com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream.

Q: What version fixes CVE-2021-29505?

Upgrading to 1.4.17 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Q: Is xstream affected?

Yes, com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream is affected in releases prior to 1.4.17. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.17 or later.

Q: What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-29505?

CVE-2021-29505 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Q: What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-29505?

CVE-2021-29505 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).

Q: How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-29505?

Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.thoughtworks.xstream'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.

HIGH

Advisory Identifier: GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc

CVSS 7.5

CWE-502 CWE-94 CWE-74

Published 2021-05-18

Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-29505 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) xstream is vulnerable to a vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Xstream libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xstream is vulnerable to a remote command execution attack. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.17.

CVE-2021-29505 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-29505

GHSA Identifier GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc

Severity HIGH

CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5

CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Affected Product Xstream

Package Ecosystem Maven

Published Date 2021-05-18

Last Updated 2025-05-30

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)

Attack Complexity High (AC:H)

Privileges Required Low (PR:L)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Unchanged (S:U)

Confidentiality High (C:H)

Integrity High (I:H)

Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-29505

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Xstream dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream fixed: 1.4.17

<dependency>
    <groupId>com.thoughtworks.xstream</groupId>
    <artifactId>xstream</artifactId>
    <version>1.4.17</version>
</dependency>

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.thoughtworks.xstream

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-29505, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.thoughtworks.xstream

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Xstream in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.4.17), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.thoughtworks.xstream command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, where the product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid. In Xstream, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

### Impact The 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. ### Patches If you rely on XStream's default blacklist of the Security Framework, you will have to use at least version 1.4.17. ### Workarounds See [workarounds](https://x-stream.github.io/security.html#workaround) for the different versions covering all CVEs. ### References See full information about the nature of the vulnerability and the steps to reproduce it in XStream's documentation for [CVE-2021-29505](https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-29505.html). ### Credits V3geB1rd, white hat hacker from Tencent Security Response Center found and reported the issue to XStream and provided the required information to reproduce it. ### For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: * Open an issue in [XStream](https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/issues) * Email us at [XStream Google Group](https://groups.google.com/group/xstream-user)

CVE-2021-29505 Affected Xstream Versions

1 component(s)

Fixed Versions:

1.4.17

Product / Package	Ecosystem	Affected Versions	Fixed Version
com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream maven/com.thoughtworks.xstream/xstream	Maven	< 1.4.17	1.4.17

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY

https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc

NVD — CVE-2021-29505 NVD

https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29505

Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT

https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f

Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT

https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/f0c4a8d861b68ffc3119cfbbbd632deee624e227

x-stream.github.io/cve-2021-29505.html WEB

https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-29505.html

Xstream Security Information SECURITY

https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html

Xstream Security Information SECURITY

https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html

Xstream Security Information SECURITY

https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html

Xstream Security Information SECURITY

https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html

Xstream Security Information SECURITY

https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5004

Xstream Security Information SECURITY

https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210708-0007

lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB

lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7

lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22KVR6B5IZP3BGQ3HPWIO2FWWCKT3DHP

lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB

lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7

lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22KVR6B5IZP3BGQ3HPWIO2FWWCKT3DHP

lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/07/msg00004.html

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8ee51d... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8ee51debf7fd184b6a6b020dc31df25118b0aa612885f12fbe77f04f@%3Cdev.jmeter.apache.org%3E

lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8ee51d... WEB

https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8ee51debf7fd184b6a6b020dc31df25118b0aa612885f12fbe77f04f%40%3Cdev.jmeter.apache.org%3E

Xstream Source Repository REPOSITORY

https://github.com/x-stream/xstream

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-29505?

CVE-2021-29505 is a security vulnerability in Xstream involving XStream is vulnerable to a Remote Command Execution attack under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.

Which Xstream versions are affected?

Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.17 across affected packages: com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream.

What version fixes CVE-2021-29505?

Upgrading to 1.4.17 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.

Is xstream affected?

Yes, com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream is affected in releases prior to 1.4.17. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.17 or later.

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-29505?

CVE-2021-29505 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-29505?

CVE-2021-29505 is classified under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data (The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.).

How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-29505?

Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=com.thoughtworks.xstream'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.

Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema

Normalized schema output

View Raw JSON

{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc",
  "modified" : "2025-05-30T00:31:13Z",
  "published" : "2021-05-18T18:36:27Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-29505" ],
  "summary" : "XStream is vulnerable to a Remote Command Execution attack",
  "details" : "### Impact\nThe 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.\n\n### Patches\nIf you rely on XStream's default blacklist of the Security Framework, you will have to use at least version 1.4.17.\n\n### Workarounds\nSee [workarounds](https://x-stream.github.io/security.html#workaround) for the different versions covering all CVEs.\n\n### References\nSee full information about the nature of the vulnerability and the steps to reproduce it in XStream's documentation for [CVE-2021-29505](https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-29505.html).\n\n### Credits\n\nV3geB1rd, white hat hacker from Tencent Security Response Center found and reported the issue to XStream and provided the required information to reproduce it.\n\n### For more information\nIf you have any questions or comments about this advisory:\n* Open an issue in [XStream](https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/issues)\n* Email us at [XStream Google Group](https://groups.google.com/group/xstream-user)",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.17"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29505"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/f0c4a8d861b68ffc3119cfbbbd632deee624e227"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-29505.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5004"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210708-0007"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22KVR6B5IZP3BGQ3HPWIO2FWWCKT3DHP"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/22KVR6B5IZP3BGQ3HPWIO2FWWCKT3DHP"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/07/msg00004.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8ee51debf7fd184b6a6b020dc31df25118b0aa612885f12fbe77f04f@%3Cdev.jmeter.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r8ee51debf7fd184b6a6b020dc31df25118b0aa612885f12fbe77f04f%40%3Cdev.jmeter.apache.org%3E"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/x-stream/xstream"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-502", "CWE-74", "CWE-94" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-05-18T16:14:15Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-05-28T21:15:00Z"
  }
}

CVSS V3

7.5 HIGH

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)

Attack Complexity High (AC:H)

Privileges Required Low (PR:L)

User Interaction None (UI:N)

Scope Unchanged (S:U)

Confidentiality High (C:H)

Integrity High (I:H)

Availability High (A:H)

Vector String

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

Advisory Metadata

Source ID: GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc
Schema Version: 1.4.0
Published: 2021-05-18 18:36
Last Modified: 2025-05-30 00:31
Database Record File: advisories/github-reviewed/2021/05/GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc/GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc.json