Skip to content
Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2020-26259

Medium

In XStream before version 1.4.15, is vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Deletion on the local host when unmarshalling.

Published Dec 13, 2021 · Updated Oct 9, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2020-26259, GHSA-jfvx-7wrx-43fh, UBUNTU-CVE-2020-26259

Key Facts

Patch immediately
  • CVE-2020-26259 is a medium-severity vulnerability (CVSS 6.8 v3.1) affecting Struts (Apache), Xstream, Debian Linux and 22 more products.
  • It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. No public exploit code is known.
  • EPSS estimates a 82% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
  • Fixed versions are available, including Struts 6.0.0, cobbler 3.0.0+git20190806.32c4bae0-5.6.4, com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream 1.4.15.
  • Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.

CVSS v3.1

6.8

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

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

82%

Higher than 99.6% 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-2020-26259 brief as a PDF

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

Description

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In XStream before version 1.4.15, is vulnerable to an Arbitrary File Deletion on the local host when unmarshalling. The vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to delete arbitrary know files on the host as log as the executing process has sufficient rights only by manipulating the processed input stream. If you rely on XStream's default blacklist of the Security Framework, you will have to use at least version 1.4.15. The reported vulnerability does not exist running Java 15 or higher. No user is affected, who followed the recommendation to setup XStream's Security Framework with a whitelist! Anyone relying on XStream's default blacklist can immediately switch to a whilelist for the allowed types to avoid the vulnerability. Users of XStream 1.4.14 or below who still want to use XStream default blacklist can use a workaround described in more detailed in the referenced advisories.

Affected Products

140 affected entries in total
ProductAffected versionsFixed in
StrutsApacheSee advisory6.0.0
XstreamXstream>= < 1.4.151.4.15
Debian LinuxDebian10.0, 9.0n/a
FedoraFedoraproject33, 34, 35n/a
libxstream-javadebianSee advisory1.4.15-1
20 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Patched Releases

Struts

6.0.0

cobbler

3.0.0+git20190806.32c4bae0-5.6.4

com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstream

1.4.15

grafana-formula

0.4.0-3.6.2

libxstream-java

1.4.11.1-1+deb10u2, 1.4.11.1-1+deb9u1, 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, 1.4.15-1, 1.4.7-1ubuntu0.1+esm2, 1.4.8-1ubuntu0.1+esm3

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

    Dec 13, 2021

  2. Last updated

    Oct 9, 2026

Weakness Type

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

References

15 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

Is CVE-2020-26259 Running On Your Attack Surface?

Brandefense maps vulnerabilities like this one to your internet-facing assets and tells you exactly where to patch.

Request A Demo