CVE-2021-39154: Xstream XStream Is Vulnerable To An Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-6w62-hx7r-mw68
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CVSS 8.5
CWE-502 CWE-434
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-39154 is a HIGH (CVSS 8.5) xstream is vulnerable to an vulnerability (CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data) affecting Xstream libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xstream is vulnerable to an arbitrary code execution attack. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.4.18.

CVE-2021-39154 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-39154
GHSA Identifier GHSA-6w62-hx7r-mw68
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 8.5
CWE Classification CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Affected Product Xstream
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 8.5

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:C/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 Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2021-39154

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: 1.4.18 
<dependency>
    <groupId>com.thoughtworks.xstream</groupId>
    <artifactId>xstream</artifactId>
    <version>1.4.18</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-2021-39154, 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 1.4.18), 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 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. ### Patches XStream 1.4.18 uses no longer a blacklist by default, since it cannot be secured for general purpose. ### 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-2021-39154](https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-39154.html). ### Credits ka1n4t 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) * Contact us at [XStream Google Group](https://groups.google.com/group/xstream-user)

CVE-2021-39154 Affected Xstream Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.4.18
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream
maven/com.thoughtworks.xstream/xstream
Maven
< 1.4.18
1.4.18

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-6w62-hx7r-mw68
NVD — CVE-2021-39154 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39154
Xstream Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/x-stream/xstream
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/09/msg00017.html
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@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/packa... WEB
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB
Xstream Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210923-0003
Xstream Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5004
Xstream Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
Xstream Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
Xstream Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html
x-stream.github.io/cve-2021-39154.html WEB
https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-39154.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-39154?
CVE-2021-39154 is a security vulnerability in Xstream involving XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack under CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data.
Which Xstream versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.4.18 across affected packages: com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream.
What version fixes CVE-2021-39154?
Upgrading to 1.4.18 (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 1.4.18. Upgrade your dependency to 1.4.18 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-39154?
CVE-2021-39154 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-39154?
CVE-2021-39154 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-2021-39154?
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-6w62-hx7r-mw68",
  "modified" : "2022-02-08T20:43:47Z",
  "published" : "2021-08-25T14:46:38Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-39154" ],
  "summary" : "XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack",
  "details" : "### Impact\nThe 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.\n\n### Patches\nXStream 1.4.18 uses no longer a blacklist by default, since it cannot be secured for general purpose.\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-2021-39154](https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-39154.html).\n\n### Credits\nka1n4t 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* Contact us at [XStream Google Group](https://groups.google.com/group/xstream-user)\n",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.4.18"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-6w62-hx7r-mw68"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39154"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/x-stream/xstream"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/09/msg00017.html"
  }, {
    "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@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PVPHZA7VW2RRSDCOIPP2W6O5ND254TU7"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QGXIU3YDPG6OGTDHMBLAFN7BPBERXREB"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210923-0003"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5004"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-39154.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-434", "CWE-502" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2021-08-23T18:22:35Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-08-23T18:15:00Z"
  }
}