CVE-2021-39144 XStream XStream: command or code injection
In plain words: The program treats text it receives as instructions instead of plain data. The attacker can run commands on the machine — often the whole device is taken over.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Mar 31, 2023
What to do
- Install XStream's security update for XStream. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- XStream Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Product
- XStream XStream
- CISA description
- 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.
- Type of flaw
- Command or code injection (CWE-94, CWE-502)
- Confirmed exploited
- Mar 10, 2023
- US federal patch deadline
- Mar 31, 2023
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Answering about CVE-2021-39144 ·
Questions about CVE-2021-39144
Is CVE-2021-39144 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2021-39144 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 10, 2023, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2021-39144?
Install XStream's security update for XStream. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2021-39144?
Only if you use XStream XStream. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.