Lucene search
K

Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-29505

🗓️ 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 2 Views

XStream before 1.4.17 allows remote command execution via crafted input; patch is in 1.4.17.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: Vulnerabilities in XStream affect IBM Spectrum Copy Data Management
11 Dec 202100:37
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: XStream Vulnerability Affects IBM Sterling B2B Integrator (CVE-2021-29505)
5 Oct 202119:55
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: IBM Watson Discovery for IBM Cloud Pak for Data affected by vulnerability in XStream
1 Oct 202106:19
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: IBM InfoSphere Information Server is affected by a vulnerability in XStream (CVE-2021-29505)
29 Oct 202120:15
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: IBM Engineering Test Management is vulnerable to execute arbitrary commands on system due to XStream ( CVE-2021-29505 ).
4 Jul 202211:15
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: IBM Watson Discovery for IBM Cloud Pak for Data affected by vulnerability in xstream-1.4.9.jar
29 Jan 202517:24
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: Vulnerabilities in Node.js, XStream and Apache Commons affect IBM Spectrum Control
31 Aug 202108:17
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: IBM Data Risk Manager is affected by multiple vulnerabilities including a remote code execution in Spring Framework (CVE-2022-22965)
11 Apr 202215:17
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: IBM Security Verify Governance is vulnerable to multiple security threats due to use of XStream
22 Nov 202216:29
ibm
IBM Security Bulletins
Security Bulletin: Vulnerabilities in MongoDB, Node.js, Docker, and XStream affect IBM Spectrum Protect Plus
28 Jun 202120:25
ibm
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(257158);
  script_version("1.1");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2025/08/27");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2021-29505");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-29505");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - XStream is software for serializing Java objects to XML and back again. A vulnerability in XStream
    versions prior to 1.4.17 may allow a remote attacker has sufficient rights to execute commands of the host
    only by manipulating the processed input stream. No user who followed the recommendation to setup
    XStream's security framework with a whitelist limited to the minimal required types is affected. The
    vulnerability is patched in version 1.4.17. (CVE-2021-29505)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2021-29505");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2021-29505");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2021/05/18");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/27");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:20.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:libxstream-java");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-14.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-16.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-18.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-20.04");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Ubuntu Linux-20.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "20.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxstream-java"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-14.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxstream-java"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-16.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "16.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxstream-java"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-18.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "18.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libxstream-java"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

Data

Build on a solid foundation with Vulners data

We provide the essential building blocks for cybersecurity solutions with comprehensive, structured, and constantly updated vulnerability and exploits data

Api

Power your application with Vulners API

The Vulners REST API offers reliable, high-performance access to vulnerability intelligence, with 99.9% SLA uptime and CDN-backed data delivery for seamless global access

App

Assess and manage vulnerabilities with Vulners tools

Built on top of Vulners' database and SDK, end-user solutions give security professionals and developers lightweight and powerful tools for vulnerability remediation

27 Aug 2025 00:00Current
7.6High risk
Vulners AI Score7.6
CVSS 26.5
CVSS 3.17.5 - 8.8
EPSS0.90349
2