`CVE-2021-29505` XStream

Affected software	XStream
Severity	8.8 High CVSS 3.1 3 scores
Fixed in	`1.4.17`
Weakness	Code injection (CWE-94)
Published	28 May 2021
Updated	7 Oct 2026

Description

XStream is software for serializing Java objects to XML and back again. A vulnerability in XStream versions prior to 1.4.17 may allow a remote attacker has sufficient rights to execute commands of the host only by manipulating the processed input stream. No user who followed the recommendation to setup XStream's security framework with a whitelist limited to the minimal required types is affected. The vulnerability is patched in version 1.4.17.

CWE-502 · Deserialization of untrusted dataCWE-74

Exploitation status

Working exploit published

A reviewed exploit catalogue lists ready-to-run exploit code for this CVE.

CISA KEV not listed
VulnCheck KEV not listed
CISA Vulnrichment exploitation: none
Indexed PoC 2 indexed Published artifacts you can open, in GitHub PoC, Nuclei; first seen 2021-06-08.
EPSS 77% chance in 30 days A model's forecast, not a report of exploitation. Higher than 99.6% of all scored CVEs.

Index	Artifact	Stars	First seen
GitHub PoC	对CVE-2021-29505进行复现，并分析学了下Xstream反序列化过程	6	2021-06-08
Nuclei	XStream <1.4.17 - Remote Code Execution

Index

Artifact

Stars

First seen

GitHub PoC

对CVE-2021-29505进行复现，并分析学了下Xstream反序列化过程

2021-06-08

Nuclei

XStream <1.4.17 - Remote Code Execution

Waratek protection

Mitigation candidate

A kind of vulnerability Waratek's rules address, with exploit code published or exploitation reported. No rule exists and none is planned yet. The decision below says what we found to build a rule from.

Protection none
Action unverified
Review automated Inferred
Record active

Decided by	A reference pointing at the upstream fix: a commit, a PR, a Red Hat bug
Finding	A reference points at an upstream fix (commit tier): https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f. That makes this CVE a candidate for an ARMR patch rule — it is the kind of defect ARMR can address, and there is a fix to work from. No rule exists and none is scheduled: writing one means reading the linked change and finding a hook point ARMR can express it at, which may turn out not to exist.
Candidate fix	https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f : a commit: the change itself

Decided by

A reference pointing at the upstream fix: a commit, a PR, a Red Hat bug

Finding

A reference points at an upstream fix (commit tier): https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f. That makes this CVE a candidate for an ARMR patch rule — it is the kind of defect ARMR can address, and there is a fix to work from. No rule exists and none is scheduled: writing one means reading the linked change and finding a hook point ARMR can express it at, which may turn out not to exist.

Candidate fix

https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f : a commit: the change itself

CVSS

8.8 HIGH v3.1 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H 3 metrics

We show the highest score from the newest CVSS version. Scores from different versions can't be compared, and the first score listed is sometimes a 0.0 placeholder.

Version Score Band Vector Assigner Type

CVSS 3.1 8.8 HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H NVD Primary published

CVSS 3.1 7.5 HIGH CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H security-advisories@github.com Secondary

CVSS 2.0 6.5 none AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P NVD Primary

Version	Score	Band	Vector	Assigner	Type
CVSS 3.1	8.8	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`	NVD	Primary	published
CVSS 3.1	7.5	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`	security-advisories@github.com	Secondary
CVSS 2.0	6.5	none	`AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P`	NVD	Primary

Affected software and releases

Oracle advisories

Advisory	Type	Quarter	Products Oracle names in its risk matrix
Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2022 ↗	CPU	2022-Q3	Oracle Retail Applications / Other (XStream) (15.0.2, 16.0.2)
Oracle Critical Patch Update January 2022 ↗	CPU	2022-Q1	Oracle Communications Applications / Rulesets (XStream) (7.3.4, 7.3.5, 7.4.0, 7.4.1, 7.4.2)
Oracle Critical Patch Update October 2021 ↗	CPU	2021-Q4	Oracle Enterprise Manager / Guest Management (XStream) (12.4.0.0) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Accessibility (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Account-Maintenance (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Credit Appraisal (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Dashboard (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5) Oracle Financial Services Applications / Lending (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5) Oracle Fusion Middleware / Discussion Forums (XStream) (12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0) Oracle Fusion Middleware / General (XStream) (11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0) Oracle Fusion Middleware / WebCenter Sites (XStream) (12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0)

Advisory

Type

Quarter

Products Oracle names in its risk matrix

Oracle Critical Patch Update July 2022 ↗

CPU

2022-Q3

Oracle Retail Applications / Other (XStream) (15.0.2, 16.0.2)

Oracle Critical Patch Update January 2022 ↗

CPU

2022-Q1

Oracle Communications Applications / Rulesets (XStream) (7.3.4, 7.3.5, 7.4.0, 7.4.1, 7.4.2)

Oracle Critical Patch Update October 2021 ↗

CPU

2021-Q4

Oracle Enterprise Manager / Guest Management (XStream) (12.4.0.0)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Accessibility (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Account-Maintenance (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Credit Appraisal (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Dashboard (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5)
Oracle Financial Services Applications / Lending (XStream) (14.2, 14.3, 14.5)
Oracle Fusion Middleware / Discussion Forums (XStream) (12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0)
Oracle Fusion Middleware / General (XStream) (11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0)
Oracle Fusion Middleware / WebCenter Sites (XStream) (12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0)

Oracle components and versions

Family	Component	Versions, as Oracle lists them	Read as
Oracle Communications Applications	Rulesets (XStream)	7.3.4, 7.3.5, 7.4.0, 7.4.1, 7.4.2	7.3.4 · 7.3.5 · 7.4.0 · 7.4.1 · 7.4.2
Oracle Enterprise Manager	Guest Management (XStream)	12.4.0.0	12.4.0.0
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Accessibility (XStream)	14.2, 14.3, 14.5	14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Account-Maintenance (XStream)	14.2, 14.3, 14.5	14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Credit Appraisal (XStream)	14.2, 14.3, 14.5	14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Dashboard (XStream)	14.2, 14.3, 14.5	14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
Oracle Financial Services Applications	Lending (XStream)	14.2, 14.3, 14.5	14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
Oracle Fusion Middleware	Discussion Forums (XStream)	12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0	12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0
Oracle Fusion Middleware	General (XStream)	11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0	11.1.1.9.0 · 12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0
Oracle Fusion Middleware	WebCenter Sites (XStream)	12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0	12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0
Oracle Retail Applications	Other (XStream)	15.0.2, 16.0.2	15.0.2 · 16.0.2

Family

Component

Versions, as Oracle lists them

Read as

Oracle Communications Applications

Rulesets (XStream)

7.3.4, 7.3.5, 7.4.0, 7.4.1, 7.4.2

7.3.4 · 7.3.5 · 7.4.0 · 7.4.1 · 7.4.2

Oracle Enterprise Manager

Guest Management (XStream)

12.4.0.0

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Accessibility (XStream)

14.2, 14.3, 14.5

14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Account-Maintenance (XStream)

14.2, 14.3, 14.5

14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Credit Appraisal (XStream)

14.2, 14.3, 14.5

14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Dashboard (XStream)

14.2, 14.3, 14.5

14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5

Oracle Financial Services Applications

Lending (XStream)

14.2, 14.3, 14.5

14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5

Oracle Fusion Middleware

Discussion Forums (XStream)

12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0

12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0

Oracle Fusion Middleware

General (XStream)

11.1.1.9.0, 12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0

11.1.1.9.0 · 12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0

Oracle Fusion Middleware

WebCenter Sites (XStream)

12.2.1.3.0, 12.2.1.4.0

12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0

Oracle Retail Applications

Other (XStream)

15.0.2, 16.0.2

15.0.2 · 16.0.2

Maven packages

Affected and fixed versions, from OSV.dev

Package Introduced Fixed Last affected

com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream 0 1.4.17 unbounded

Package	Introduced	Fixed	Last affected
`com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream`	0	`1.4.17`	unbounded

Products and versions

18 products, 42 version entries

Source	Vendor	Product	Scheme	Affected versions
osv	com.thoughtworks.xstream	xstream	generic	＜ 1.4.17
nvd	debian	debian linux	generic	9.0 · 10.0 · 11.0
nvd	fedoraproject	fedora	generic	33 · 34 · 35
nvd	netapp	snapmanager	generic	any version
nvd	oracle	banking cash management	generic	14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5
nvd	oracle	banking corporate lending process management	generic	14.2.0 · 14.3.0 · 14.5.0
nvd	oracle	banking credit facilities process management	generic	14.2.0 · 14.3.0 · 14.5.0
nvd	oracle	banking supply chain finance	generic	14.2.0
nvd	oracle	banking trade finance process management	generic	14.5.0
nvd	oracle	business activity monitoring	generic	11.1.1.9.0 · 12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0
nvd	oracle	communications brm - elastic charging engine	generic	11.3 · 12.0
nvd	oracle	communications unified inventory management	generic	7.3.4 · 7.3.5 · 7.4.0 · 7.4.1 · 7.4.2
nvd	oracle	enterprise manager ops center	generic	12.4.0.0
nvd	oracle	retail customer insights	generic	15.0.2 · 16.0.2
nvd	oracle	retail xstore point of service	generic	16.0.6 · 17.0.4 · 18.0.3 · 19.0.2 · 20.0.1
nvd	oracle	webcenter portal	generic	12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0
nvd	oracle	webcenter sites	generic	12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0
nvd	xstream	xstream	generic	＜ 1.4.17

Source

Vendor

Product

Scheme

Affected versions

osv

com.thoughtworks.xstream

xstream

generic

＜ 1.4.17

nvd

debian

debian linux

generic

9.0 · 10.0 · 11.0

nvd

fedoraproject

fedora

generic

33 · 34 · 35

nvd

netapp

snapmanager

generic

any version

nvd

oracle

banking cash management

generic

14.2 · 14.3 · 14.5

nvd

oracle

banking corporate lending process management

generic

14.2.0 · 14.3.0 · 14.5.0

nvd

oracle

banking credit facilities process management

generic

14.2.0 · 14.3.0 · 14.5.0

nvd

oracle

banking supply chain finance

generic

14.2.0

nvd

oracle

banking trade finance process management

generic

14.5.0

nvd

oracle

business activity monitoring

generic

11.1.1.9.0 · 12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0

nvd

oracle

communications brm - elastic charging engine

generic

11.3 · 12.0

nvd

oracle

communications unified inventory management

generic

7.3.4 · 7.3.5 · 7.4.0 · 7.4.1 · 7.4.2

nvd

oracle

enterprise manager ops center

generic

12.4.0.0

nvd

oracle

retail customer insights

generic

15.0.2 · 16.0.2

nvd

oracle

retail xstore point of service

generic

16.0.6 · 17.0.4 · 18.0.3 · 19.0.2 · 20.0.1

nvd

oracle

webcenter portal

generic

12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0

nvd

oracle

webcenter sites

generic

12.2.1.3.0 · 12.2.1.4.0

nvd

xstream

generic

＜ 1.4.17

References

URL	Tags
https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f	commit
https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-7chv-rrw6-w6fc	WEB
https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/f0c4a8d861b68ffc3119cfbbbd632deee624e227	WEB
https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-29505.html	WEB
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html	WEB
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html	WEB
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html	WEB
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html	WEB
https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5004	WEB
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210708-0007	WEB

URL

Timeline

Published	2021-05-28	By the CVE Program.
NVD record modified	2026-10-07	NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

Published

2021-05-28

By the CVE Program.

NVD record modified

2026-10-07

NVD's own last-modified date for this record.

How VRT decided (17 of 24 rules ran)

17 of 24 rules ran. The rest didn't run because an earlier rule had already settled the CVE.

# Rule Outcome Status Detail

identity: Does this identifier describe a vulnerability at all? the first rule that matches decides

1 rejected no match CVE Program withdrawal of this identifier

scope: Is it a vulnerability Waratek protects? the first rule that matches decides

2 armr-patch-file no match An ARMR patch file on disk for this CVE

3 armr-secure-rule-file no match An ARMR security-rule template on disk for this CVE

4 manual-classification no match A researcher's recorded decision for this specific CVE

5 manual classification no match Manual classification of this CVE in the legacy dataset

6 non-java-upstream no match A root cause in non-Java code: an OS kernel, a C library, or a bundled runtime

7 oracle-component no match The defect being in a component of a tracked product the agent does not reach: JavaFX, the Java SE installer, the JInitiator browser plug-in, the native WebLogic proxy plug-in, or a native part of Oracle Application Server or Collaboration Suite (HTTP Server, Web Cache, Internet Directory, mail and calendar servers). Oracle gives these no CPE of their own and names them only in the description.

8 java-client-side no match Oracle's own risk-matrix note saying the CVE is reached only through untrusted code in the Java sandbox (applets, Web Start) or only through a client installation of Java, so a server running its own trusted code is not exposed

9 osv-maven matched In scope Maven packages: com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream

10 cna-maven-package not reached An affected Maven artifact named by the CNA itself

11 known-cpe-product not reached An NVD CPE naming a product ARMR tracks

12 cna-cpe-product not reached A CPE the CNA published naming a tracked product. Oracle publishes these on advisory day, months before NVD.

13 oracle-advisory-family not reached A tracked product family named in Oracle's own risk matrix. CPE cannot carry a suite name, only a module.

14 cna-named-product not reached A tracked product named in words by the CVE's own CNA, on a record with no CPE yet. Apache and Eclipse publish these on advisory day, before NVD adds CPE data.

15 non-deployable-product not reached The only affected product being a sealed appliance image, where Java runs but no -javaagent can be attached

16 unmatched-product not reached No tracked product matched above, and none present at all

disposition: What do we do about one that is? every rule runs

17 patch-hint decided it matched Mitigation candidate References include candidate fix URL (commit tier): https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/24fac82191292c6ae25f94508d28b9823f83624f

18 open-source-maven skipped The affected package being open source on Maven, so the fix can be read

19 poc-derivable skipped An indexed exploit clearing the evidence bar to reverse-engineer, where there is no source to read

20 no-exploit skipped Nothing to build a rule from yet: no published exploit, no CISA record of exploitation and no source-level change to read

21 secure-rule-match withheld CWE-502 names deserialization, but the description identifies an unsupported deserialization library; not promoted by the CWE alone.

22 exploited-no-fix-or-poc skipped Somebody exploiting this CVE (a CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, or a CISA verdict of active exploitation), with no fix, source code or PoC to build a rule from

23 below-action-threshold no match Severity is HIGH — only MEDIUM/LOW are deprioritized

24 no-exploit-published no match A CISA or VulnCheck KEV listing, a CISA verdict of active exploitation, a reviewed exploit catalogue, or a GitHub PoC with 5 or more stars carries this CVE — exploit code is in use or published, so it stays a candidate

Products the scope rules checked

The products this CVE's record names, and whether VRT tracks each one. The scope rules decided on these.

Vendor Product Tracked CPE Source

xstream xstream not tracked cpe:2.3:a:xstream:xstream:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

debian debian_linux not tracked cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

fedoraproject fedora not tracked cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

netapp snapmanager not tracked cpe:2.3:a:netapp:snapmanager:-:*:*:*:*:oracle:*:*

oracle banking_cash_management tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:banking_cash_management:14.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle banking_corporate_lending_process_management tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:banking_corporate_lending_process_management:14.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle banking_credit_facilities_process_management tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:banking_credit_facilities_process_management:14.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle banking_supply_chain_finance tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:banking_supply_chain_finance:14.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle banking_trade_finance_process_management tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:banking_trade_finance_process_management:14.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle business_activity_monitoring not tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:business_activity_monitoring:11.1.1.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

oracle communications_brm_-_elastic_charging_engine tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_brm_-_elastic_charging_engine:11.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle communications_unified_inventory_management tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_unified_inventory_management:7.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle enterprise_manager_ops_center tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_manager_ops_center:12.4.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle retail_customer_insights tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:retail_customer_insights:15.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle retail_xstore_point_of_service tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:retail_xstore_point_of_service:16.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle webcenter_portal tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:webcenter_portal:12.2.1.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

oracle webcenter_sites tracked cpe:2.3:a:oracle:webcenter_sites:12.2.1.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* yaml

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