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CVE-2021-35464

CRITICAL
Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502)
2021-07-22 cve@mitre.org
9.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2021 - Software and Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V10 - Malicious Code Integrity verification, supply chain security
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

Critical risk (CVSS 9.8, EPSS 94.4%). ForgeRock AM is used as an identity and access management solution by major enterprises and government organizations. Compromising the AM server provides access to all SSO-protected applications and user credentials.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker sends a single HTTP request to /ccversion/Version with a crafted jato.pageSession cookie containing a serialized Commons Collections gadget chain. The AM server deserializes the payload, executing OS commands as the application server user, providing access to the identity store.

Emergency Immediate action required. Why: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited), no patch available.
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) No patch listed yet 94.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 26, 2026

ForgeRock AM (Access Management) before version 7.0 contains a Java deserialization vulnerability in the jato.pageSession parameter enabling unauthenticated remote code execution via a single HTTP request.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Mar 26, 2026 - 11:19 CVSS 9.8

A Java deserialization vulnerability in ForgeRock AM allows unauthenticated remote code execution through a single crafted request to the /ccversion/* endpoint, exploiting the Sun ONE Application Framework's pageSession parameter.

RemediationAI

Upgrade to ForgeRock AM 7.0+. Apply the provided security patch for older versions. Monitor for exploitation indicators in access logs (unusual requests to /ccversion/). Restrict access to AM administrative endpoints.

Affected ProductsAI

ForgeRock AM server before 7.0 OpenAM-based deployments

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The CWE-502 deserialization flaw in the jato.pageSession parameter processes untrusted serialized Java objects. ForgeRock AM inherits the Sun ONE/OpenSSO framework's session serialization, which uses Java's default ObjectInputStream without class filtering, allowing gadget chain exploitation.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

3
Added to CISA KEV
Nov 05, 2025 - 19:11 cisa
CISA KEV
PoC Detected
Nov 05, 2025 - 19:11 vuln.today
Public exploit code
CVE Published
Jul 22, 2021 - 18:15 nvd
CRITICAL 9.8

DescriptionCVE.org

ForgeRock AM server before 7.0 has a Java deserialization vulnerability in the jato.pageSession parameter on multiple pages. The exploitation does not require authentication, and remote code execution can be triggered by sending a single crafted /ccversion/* request to the server. The vulnerability exists due to the usage of Sun ONE Application Framework (JATO) found in versions of Java 8 or earlier

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Organizations using ForgeRock AM server before 7.0 face critical risk from CVE-2021-35464, a insecure deserialization vulnerability rated CVSS 9.8. Insecure deserialization could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by providing crafted serialized data. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (KEV-listed) and requires immediate remediation. Immediate patching is required per CISA KEV mandate.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Restrict deserialization endpoints; (2) Implement integrity checks on serialized data; (3) Use type-safe alternatives.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Threat Score
9.8/10
Composite threat intelligence
EPSS Score
94.4%
Top 0% exploitable
Threat Intel
1
1 sources
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
7 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV Yes
Public POC Yes
EPSS 94.4%
Patch available No
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited), no patch available
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Immediate
Exploitation· derived
Active
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact
Very High

Priority Score

238
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: +50
EPSS: +94
CVSS: +49
PoC: +20
Weaponized: +15
Threat intel: +10
Gov advisory: 0

Threat IntelligenceMISP

ATT&CK Techniques (observed)
Sources: MITRE ATT&CK, Metasploit/Nuclei

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