HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2020-26258
HIGH

CVE-2020-26258

CWE-918Published: December 16, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

7.7
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

XStream is a Java library to serialize objects to XML and back again. In XStream before version 1.4.15, a Server-Side Forgery Request vulnerability can be activated when unmarshalling. The vulnerability may allow a remote attacker to request data from internal resources that are not publicly available 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 if 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.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2020-26258 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), with a CVSS base score of 7.7.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeChanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityNone
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

Affected Vendors & Products

Apache1 product(s)
struts
Debian1 product(s)
debian linux
Fedora1 product(s)
fedora
xstream1 product(s)
xstream
Source: NVD CPE · 7 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
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Official Patches & Advisories

All References (18)

https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2020-26258.htmlExploit · Mitigation · Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2020-26258
CVSS Score7.7 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-918
CISA KEVNo
Affected4 vendor(s)
PublishedDec 16, 2020

Related CVEs (CWE-918)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2020-26258 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWatch. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.