CVE-2021-39144 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2021-39144, assigned by GitHub_M, relates to a vulnerability in XStream that could lead to Remote Command Execution.

Understanding CVE-2021-39144

CVE-2021-39144 is a security vulnerability found in XStream, a library used to serialize objects to XML and vice versa.

What is CVE-2021-39144?

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker with sufficient rights to execute commands on the host by manipulating the input stream. Users who follow recommended security configurations are not impacted.

The Impact of CVE-2021-39144

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 8.5 (High) and can result in high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-39144

XStream vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in XStream versions below 1.4.18 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands through manipulated input streams.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: x-stream
Product: xstream
Versions: < 1.4.18 (affected)

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the processed input stream in affected versions of XStream.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate the CVE-2021-39144 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade XStream to version 1.4.18 or later.
Implement XStream's security framework with a whitelist limited to essential types.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch XStream to the latest versions.
Monitor for security advisories and apply relevant security configurations.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by XStream promptly to address security vulnerabilities.