Description
XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In XStream before version 1.4.16, there is a vulnerability which may allow a remote attacker to load and execute arbitrary code from a remote 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. If you rely on XStream's default blacklist of the Security Framework, you will have to use at least version 1.4.16.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| x-stream | xstream | < 1.4.16 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | libxstream-java | 1.4.15-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxstream-java | 1.4.15-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxstream-java | 1.4.15-2 | — |
| Debian 9 | libxstream-java | 1.4.11.1-1+deb9u2 | DLA-2616-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | libxstream-java | 1.4.11.1-1ubuntu0.2 | USN-4943-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | libxstream-java | 1.4.11.1-1~18.04.2 | USN-4943-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | libxstream-java | 1.4.8-1ubuntu0.1+esm3 | USN-6978-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | libxstream-java | 1.4.7-1ubuntu0.1+esm2 | USN-6978-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | xstream +1 | 1.3.1-13.el7_9 | RHSA-2021:1354 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP3 | xstream | 1.4.16-3.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1840-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | xstream | 1.4.16-3.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1840-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Manager Server Module 4.2 | xstream | 1.4.16-3.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1840-2 |
| SUSE Manager Server Module 4.1 | xstream | 1.4.16-3.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:1840-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | xstream | 1.4.18-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10592-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | xstream | 1.4.16-3.8.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:1840-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.2 | xstream | 1.4.16-lp152.2.6.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:0832-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | xstream +1 | 1.3.1-13.amzn2 | ALAS2-2021-1645 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | xstream +1 | 1.3.1-13.el7_9 | ELSA-2021-1354 |
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream | < 1.4.16 | 1.4.16 | GHSA-59jw-jqf4-3wq3 |
Advisories 13
- RHSA-2021:1354 Red Hat Security Advisory: xstream security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 8, 2026
- USN-6978-1 libxstream-java vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-4943-1 libxstream-java vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DLA-2616-1 libxstream-java - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10592-1 xstream-1.4.18-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:1840-1 Security update for xstream SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:1840-2 Security update for xstream SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:1840-1 Security update for xstream SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-0180 Dell Data Protection Advisor: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jan 20, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:0832-1 Security update for xstream SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- WID-SEC-2024-1689 Dell Data Protection Advisor: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Codeausführung BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jul 22, 2024
- ALAS2-2021-1645 Important: xstream security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jan 3, 2024
- ELSA-2021-1354 Important: xstream security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Apr 27, 2021
References
- https://x-stream.github.io/security.html#workaround
- http://x-stream.github.io/changes.html#1.4.16
- https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-59jw-jqf4-3wq3
- https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2021-21344.html
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210403 [SECURITY] [DLA 2616-1] libxstream-java security update mailing-list
- [jmeter-dev] 20210406 [GitHub] [jmeter] sseide opened a new pull request #655: update x-stream to 1.4.16 (from 1.4.15) mailing-list
- [activemq-users] 20210427 Release date for ActiveMQ v5.16.2 to fix CVEs mailing-list
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210430-0002/
- https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html
- FEDORA-2021-fbad11014a vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-d894ca87dc vendor-advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.html
- FEDORA-2021-5e376c0ed9 vendor-advisory
- DSA-5004 vendor-advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpujan2022.html