CVE-2021-43859
Description
XStream is an open source java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Versions prior to 1.4.19 may allow a remote attacker to allocate 100% CPU time on the target system depending on CPU type or parallel execution of such a payload resulting in a denial of service only by manipulating the processed input stream. XStream 1.4.19 monitors and accumulates the time it takes to add elements to collections and throws an exception if a set threshold is exceeded. Users are advised to upgrade as soon as possible. Users unable to upgrade may set the NO_REFERENCE mode to prevent recursion. See GHSA-rmr5-cpv2-vgjf for further details on a workaround if an upgrade is not possible.
Predictions
Heuristic predictions, AS-IS, for prioritization only.
Mitigations
Vendor advisory: debian — https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2021-43859
Vendor advisory: suse — https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-43859.html
OS impact
| OS | Version | Status | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| sles | affected | | |
| debian | bookworm | fixed | 1.4.19-1 |
| debian | bullseye | fixed | 1.4.15-3+deb11u3 |
| debian | forky | fixed | 1.4.19-1 |
| debian | sid | fixed | 1.4.19-1 |
| debian | trixie | fixed | 1.4.19-1 |
Package impact
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream | <1.4.19 | 1.4.19 |
References
- https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-43859.html
- https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-rmr5-cpv2-vgjf
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43859
- https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/commit/e8e88621ba1c85ac3b8620337dd672e0c0c3a846
- https://github.com/x-stream/xstream
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/02/msg00018.html
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/12/msg00023.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VACQYG356OHUTD5WQGAQ4L2TTFTAV3SJ
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XODFRE2ZL64FICBJDOPWOLPTSSAI4U7X
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VACQYG356OHUTD5WQGAQ4L2TTFTAV3SJ
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XODFRE2ZL64FICBJDOPWOLPTSSAI4U7X
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.html
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujul2022.html
- https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-43859.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/02/09/1
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2021-43859
Verify integrity in audit chain (admin only). AS-IS.