{"cveID":"CVE-2021-39144","vendorProject":"XStream","product":"XStream","vulnerabilityName":"XStream Remote Code Execution Vulnerability","dateAdded":"2023-03-10","shortDescription":"XStream contains a remote code execution vulnerability that allows an attacker to manipulate the processed input stream and replace or inject objects that result in the execution of a local command on the server. This vulnerability can affect multiple products, including but not limited to VMware Cloud Foundation.","requiredAction":"Apply updates per vendor instructions.","dueDate":"2023-03-31","knownRansomwareCampaignUse":"Unknown","notes":"https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2022-0027.html, https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-39144.html; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-39144","cwes":["CWE-94","CWE-502"],"year":2021,"state":"mapped","stale_reasons":[],"mappings":[{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2021-39144","technique":"T1190","technique_name_at_mapping":"Exploit Public-Facing Application","mapping_type":"exploitation_technique","capability_group":"code_execution","comments":"The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system. It exists due to the deserialization of untrusted data in XStream versions up to 1.4.18. A remote attacker can exploit this by sending a specially crafted XStream marshalled payload to an endpoint in VMware NSX Manager, which uses the vulnerable xstream-1.4.18.jar package. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of the vulnerable system, allowing execution of commands with root privileges.\n\n","references":["https://srcincite.io/blog/2022/10/25/eat-what-you-kill-pre-authenticated-rce-in-vmware-nsx-manager.html"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"},{"domain":"enterprise","cve":"CVE-2021-39144","technique":"T1203","technique_name_at_mapping":"Exploitation for Client Execution","mapping_type":"primary_impact","capability_group":"code_execution","comments":"The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system. It exists due to the deserialization of untrusted data in XStream versions up to 1.4.18. A remote attacker can exploit this by sending a specially crafted XStream marshalled payload to an endpoint in VMware NSX Manager, which uses the vulnerable xstream-1.4.18.jar package. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of the vulnerable system, allowing execution of commands with root privileges.\n\n","references":["https://srcincite.io/blog/2022/10/25/eat-what-you-kill-pre-authenticated-rce-in-vmware-nsx-manager.html"],"status":"complete","source_file":"kev-07.28.2025_attack-16.1-enterprise.json","attack_version":"16.1","kev_snapshot":"07/28/2025"}],"techniques":[{"id":"T1190","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Exploit Public-Facing Application","name_at_mapping":"Exploit Public-Facing Application","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["exploitation_technique"],"sigma_rule_count":149,"has_detection_strategy":true},{"id":"T1203","domains":["enterprise"],"in_current_bundle":true,"live":true,"name_now":"Exploitation for Client Execution","name_at_mapping":"Exploitation for Client Execution","renamed":false,"revoked_by":null,"mapping_types":["primary_impact"],"sigma_rule_count":35,"has_detection_strategy":true}],"mapping_types":["exploitation_technique","primary_impact"],"has_exploitation_technique":true,"mapping_attack_versions":["16.1"],"mapping_domains":["enterprise"],"sigma_coverage":"full","sigma_rules_tagged_cve":[],"added_after_mapping_snapshot":false,"_source":"kevmap","_built":"2026-08-23 05:47 UTC","_attack_version":"19.2"}