CVE-2020-26258: Server-Side Forgery Request can be activated unmarshalling with XStream
Impact 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.
Patches If you rely on XStream's default blacklist of the Security Framework, you will have to use at least version 1.4.15.
Workarounds 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 insist to use XStream default blacklist - despite that clear recommendation - can use a workaround depending on their version in use.
Users of XStream 1.4.14 can simply add two lines to XStream's setup code: Java xstream.denyTypes(new String[]{ "jdk.nashorn.internal.objects.NativeString" }); xstream.denyTypesByRegExp(new String[]{ ".\\.ReadAllStream\\$FileStream" });
Users of XStream 1.4.14 to 1.4.13 can simply add three lines to XStream's setup code: Java xstream.denyTypes(new String[]{ "javax.imageio.ImageIO$ContainsFilter", "jdk.nashorn.internal.objects.NativeString" }); xstream.denyTypes(new Class[]{ java.lang.ProcessBuilder.class }); xstream.denyTypesByRegExp(new String[]{ ".\\.ReadAllStream\\$FileStream" }); Users of XStream 1.4.12 to 1.4.7 who want to use XStream with a black list will have to setup such a list from scratch and deny at least the following types: javax.imageio.ImageIO$ContainsFilter, java.beans.EventHandler, java.lang.ProcessBuilder, jdk.nashorn.internal.objects.NativeString.class, java.lang.Void and void and deny several types by name pattern. Java xstream.denyTypes(new String[]{ "javax.imageio.ImageIO$ContainsFilter", "jdk.nashorn.internal.objects.NativeString" }); xstream.denyTypes(new Class[]{ java.lang.ProcessBuilder.class, "jdk.nashorn.internal.objects.NativeString", java.beans.EventHandler.class, java.lang.ProcessBuilder.class, java.lang.Void.class, void.class }); xstream.denyTypesByRegExp(new String[]{ ".\\$LazyIterator", "javax\\.crypto\\..", ".\\.ReadAllStream\\$FileStream" }); Users of XStream 1.4.6 or below can register an own converter to prevent the unmarshalling of the currently know critical types of the Java runtime. It is in fact an updated version of the workaround for CVE-2013-7285: Java xstream.registerConverter(new Converter() { public boolean canConvert(Class type) { return type != null && (type == java.beans.EventHandler.class || type == java.lang.ProcessBuilder.class || type.getName().equals("javax.imageio.ImageIO$ContainsFilter") || type.getName().equals("jdk.nashorn.internal.objects.NativeString") || type == java.lang.Void.class || void.class || Proxy.isProxy(type)) || type.getName().startsWith("javax.crypto.") || type.getName().endsWith("$LazyIterator") || type.getName().endsWith(".ReadAllStream$FileStream")); }
public Object unmarshal(HierarchicalStreamReader reader, UnmarshallingContext context) { throw new ConversionException("Unsupported type due to security reasons."); }
public void marshal(Object source, HierarchicalStreamWriter writer, MarshallingContext context) { throw new ConversionException("Unsupported type due to security reasons."); } }, XStream.PRIORITYLOW); For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: Open an issue in XStream Contact us at XStream Google Group
Other sources
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.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
maven/com.thoughtworks.xstream:xstreamto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.4.15 - Upgrade
Upgrade
debian/libxstream-javato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.4.15-3+deb11u2Fixed in 1.4.15-3+deb11u3Fixed in 1.4.20-1+deb12u1Fixed in 1.4.21-1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
redhat/xstreamto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.4.15 - Upgrade
Upgrade
XStreamto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1.4.15 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Javato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 15 - Configuration
Configure a whitelist of allowed types before unmarshalling; this avoids the vulnerability when using XStream's default blacklist.
XStream Security Framework allowed types whitelist = whitelist - Configuration
For XStream 1.4.12 through 1.4.7, if using a blacklist, build it from scratch and deny at least javax.imageio.ImageIO$ContainsFilter, java.beans.EventHandler, java.lang.ProcessBuilder, jdk.nashorn.internal.objects.NativeString, java.lang.Void, and void, plus the specified deny-by-name patterns.
XStream denied types = deny vulnerable types
Event History
Parent advisories
This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2020-26258?
CVE-2020-26258 is a vulnerability in the XStream Java library that allows a remote attacker to request data from internal resources that are not publicly available.
What is the severity of CVE-2020-26258?
CVE-2020-26258 has a severity rating of high (7.7).
How does CVE-2020-26258 impact XStream before version 1.4.15?
CVE-2020-26258 allows a Server-Side Forgery Request vulnerability to be activated when unmarshalling, potentially exposing internal resources to remote attackers.
How can I fix CVE-2020-26258?
To fix CVE-2020-26258, upgrade to XStream version 1.4.15 or later.
Where can I find more information about CVE-2020-26258?
You can find more information about CVE-2020-26258 at the following references: [Link 1](https://github.com/x-stream/xstream/security/advisories/GHSA-4cch-wxpw-8p28), [Link 2](https://x-stream.github.io/CVE-2020-26258.html), [Link 3](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi/show_bug.cgi?id=1908833).