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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2020-26217

High

XStream can be used for Remote Code Execution

Published Nov 16, 2020 · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · Also known as BIT-activemq-2020-26217, DEBIAN-CVE-2020-26217, DLA-2471-1, DSA-4811-1, GHSA-mw36-7c6c-q4q2, SUSE-SU-2021:0176-1, SUSE-SU-2021:0906-1, TR-20-1005, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-26217, USN-4714-1, USN-4943-1

Key Facts

Patch immediately
  • CVE-2020-26217 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 8.8 v3.1) affecting Activemq (Apache), Snapmanager (Netapp), Banking Cash Management (Oracle) and 22 more products.
  • It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. No public exploit code is known.
  • EPSS estimates a 85% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
  • Fixed versions are available, including Activemq 5.15.14, cobbler 3.0.0+git20190806.32c4bae0-5.6.4, com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream 1.4.14-java7.
  • Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.

CVSS v3.1

8.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

85%

Higher than 99.7% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

No known

Not in a known-exploited catalog

Public exploit code

None known

Get the full CVE-2020-26217 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

Description

XStream before version 1.4.14 is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution.The vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to run arbitrary shell commands only by manipulating the processed input stream. Only users who rely on blocklists are affected. Anyone using XStream's Security Framework allowlist is not affected. The linked advisory provides code workarounds for users who cannot upgrade. The issue is fixed in version 1.4.14.

Affected Products

176 affected entries in total
ProductAffected versionsFixed in
ActivemqApache5.16.05.15.14
SnapmanagerNetappSee advisoryn/a
Banking Cash ManagementOracle14.2, 14.3, 14.5n/a
Banking Corporate Lending Process ManagementOracle14.2, 14.3, 14.5n/a
Banking Credit Facilities Process ManagementOracle14.2, 14.3, 14.5n/a
20 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Patched Releases

Activemq

5.15.14

cobbler

3.0.0+git20190806.32c4bae0-5.6.4

com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream

1.4.14-java7

grafana-formula

0.4.0-3.6.2

libxstream-java

1.4.11.1-1+deb10u1, 1.4.11.1-1~18.04.1, 1.4.11.1-1~18.04.2, 1.4.11.1-1ubuntu0.1, 1.4.11.1-1ubuntu0.2, 1.4.14-1, 1.4.7-1ubuntu0.1+esm2, 1.4.8-1ubuntu0.1+esm3, 1.4.9-2+deb9u1

mgr-libmod

4.1.7-3.16.2

mgr-osa-dispatcher

4.1.5-2.9.4

mgr-osad

4.1.5-2.9.4

prometheus-exporters-formula

0.9.0-3.19.2

prometheus-formula

0.3.1-3.6.2

py26-compat-salt

2016.11.10-6.11.2

python3-mgr-osa-common

4.1.5-2.9.4

python3-mgr-osa-dispatcher

4.1.5-2.9.4

python3-mgr-osad

4.1.5-2.9.4

python3-rhnlib

4.1.3-4.3.2

python3-spacewalk-check

4.1.9-4.12.4

python3-spacewalk-client-setup

4.1.9-4.12.4

python3-spacewalk-client-tools

4.1.9-4.12.4

rhnlib

4.1.3-4.3.2

smdba

1.7.8-0.3.6.2

spacewalk-backend

4.1.21-4.22.7

spacewalk-backend-app

4.1.21-4.22.7

spacewalk-backend-applet

4.1.21-4.22.7

spacewalk-backend-config-files

4.1.21-4.22.7

spacewalk-backend-config-files-common

4.1.21-4.22.7

Timeline

  1. Publicly disclosed

    Nov 16, 2020

  2. Last updated

    Oct 9, 2026

Weakness Type

  • CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
  • CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data

References

15 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

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