CVE-2021-21346
XStream is vulnerable to an Arbitrary Code Execution attack
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
Description
XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In XStream before version 1.4.16, there is a vulnerability which 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. If you rely on XStream's default blacklist of the Security Framework, you will have to use at least version 1.4.16.
Official description from the CVE record, published by GitHub_M. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.1 Medium 6.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
Attack vector: Network
The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet.
Attack complexity: High
The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: Required
A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact: None
No effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: High
Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: None
No effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity | High | The attack depends on conditions outside the attacker's control, so it takes preparation. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | Required | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link. |
| Scope | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one. |
| Confidentiality impact | None | No effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | High | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | None | No effect on availability. |
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EPSS
- Score
- 0.76367 (76.4% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.5%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA assessment as of Oct 7, 2026
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- total
Weakness (CWE)
Affected products
x-stream xstream
- affected: < 1.4.16
References
- x-stream.github.io/security.html
- x-stream.github.io/changes.html
- github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-4hrm-m…
- x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-21346.html
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210403 [SECURITY] [DLA 2616-1] libxstream-java security update (lists.debian.org)mailing-list
- [jmeter-dev] 20210406 [GitHub] [jmeter] sseide opened a new pull request #655: update x-stream to 1.4.16 (from 1.4.15) (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- [activemq-users] 20210427 Release date for ActiveMQ v5.16.2 to fix CVEs (lists.apache.org)mailing-list
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210430-0002
- oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
- FEDORA-2021-fbad11014a (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-d894ca87dc (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
- FEDORA-2021-5e376c0ed9 (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- DSA-5004 (debian.org)vendor-advisory
- oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Record last updated
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Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:52 UTC. Sources and licenses