# CVE-2021-39144: XStream Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

- Exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2023-03-10
- Published: 2021-08-23
- CVSS: 8.5 HIGH (v3.1)
- EPSS: 98.1% (100th percentile)
- CWE: CWE-94, CWE-502

XStream is a simple library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In affected versions this vulnerability may allow a remote attacker has sufficient rights to execute commands of the 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. XStream 1.4.18 uses no longer a blacklist by default, since it cannot be secured for general purpose.

## Edge WAF coverage (claimed by vendors, not measured)

| Vendor | Status | First rule | Days after publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare | Before feed history | — | — |
| AWS | No public claim | — | — |
| Microsoft Azure | No public claim | — | — |
| Google Cloud | Before feed history | — | — |
| Fastly | Before feed history | — | — |
| F5 | Before feed history | — | — |
| Akamai | No public source | — | — |
| OWASP CRS | Before feed history | — | — |

## Our test (measured)

- OWASP Core Rule Set 4.25.0, paranoia level 1, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings: blocked (1 of 1 requests blocked), template CVE-2021-39144, 2026-11-02
- OWASP Core Rule Set 4.25.0, paranoia level 2, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings: blocked (1 of 1 requests blocked), template CVE-2021-39144, 2026-11-02

"No public claim" means no vendor statement names this CVE; "Before feed history" means the CVE is older than the vendor feed. In both cases generic rules may still block it.

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