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Xstream CVE-2022-41966

HIGH
Classic Buffer Overflow (CWE-120)
2022-12-28 security-advisories@github.com
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Buffer copy size validation
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution

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

Impact

CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could overflow a buffer to corrupt adjacent memory by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 8.7% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

XStream serializes Java objects to XML and back again. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Always validate buffer sizes before copy operations. Use bounded functions (strncpy, snprintf). Enable compiler protections.

Affected Packages

maven com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream fix: 1.4.20

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in maven

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

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Buffer Copy without Size Check (CWE-120), which allows attackers to overflow a buffer to corrupt adjacent memory. XStream serializes Java objects to XML and back again. Versions prior to 1.4.20 may allow a remote attacker to terminate the application with a stack overflow error, resulting in a denial of service only via manipulation the processed input stream. The attack uses the hash code implementation for collections and maps to force recursive hash calculation causing a stack overflow. This issue is patched in version 1.4.20 which handles the stack overflow and raises an InputManipulationException instead. A potential workaround for users who only use HashMap or HashSet and whose XML refers these only as default map or set, is to change the default implementation of java.util.Map and java.util per the code example in the referenced advisory. However, this implies that your application does not care about the implementation of the map and all elements are comparable. Affected products include: Xstream. Version information: prior to 1.4.20.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

XStream serializes Java objects to XML and back again. Versions prior to 1.4.20 may allow a remote attacker to terminate the application with a stack overflow error, resulting in a denial of service only via manipulation the processed input stream. The attack uses the hash code implementation for collections and maps to force recursive hash calculation causing a stack overflow. This issue is patched in version 1.4.20 which handles the stack overflow and raises an InputManipulationException instead. A potential workaround for users who only use HashMap or HashSet and whose XML refers these only as default map or set, is to change the default implementation of java.util.Map and java.util per the code example in the referenced advisory. However, this implies that your application does not care about the implementation of the map and all elements are comparable.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
8.7%
Top 5% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

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 HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 8.7%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
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
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

67
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +9
CVSS: +38
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.

Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:xstream:xstream:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2020-26217 HIGH POC
8.8 Nov 16

XStream before version 1.4.14 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution.The vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to ru

CVE-2021-21351 CRITICAL POC
9.1 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerabi

CVE-2021-21346 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerabi

CVE-2021-21344 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerabi

CVE-2021-21345 CRITICAL POC
9.9 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.9), this vulnerabi

CVE-2021-29505 HIGH POC
8.8 May 28

XStream is software for serializing Java objects to XML and back again. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerabili

CVE-2020-26258 HIGH POC
7.7 Dec 16

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.7), this vulnerability

CVE-2020-26259 MEDIUM POC
6.8 Dec 16

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.8), this vulnerabili

CVE-2021-21341 HIGH POC
7.5 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability

CVE-2021-21342 CRITICAL POC
9.1 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.1), this vulnerabi

CVE-2021-21349 HIGH POC
8.6 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.6), this vulnerability

CVE-2021-21343 HIGH POC
7.5 Mar 23

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability

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