CVE-2021-20318Network attack vector

Authenticated code execution via JMS object deserialization

Published Dec 23, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Deserialization in HornetQ in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.3.9.GA and 7.4.0.GA allows remote authenticated users to execute code. HornetQ's JMS ObjectMessage handling invokes getObject on attacker-supplied serialized objects because the EAP component omitted Artemis's deserialization fix. Access to send messages to the broker is required, and successful exploitation runs code with the affected application's permissions.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.70%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Deserialization in HornetQ in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.3.9.GA and 7.4.0.GA allows remote authenticated users to execute code. HornetQ's JMS ObjectMessage handling invokes getObject on attacker-supplied serialized objects because the EAP component omitted Artemis's deserialization fix. Access to send messages to the broker is required, and successful exploitation runs code with the affected application's permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20318
Published
Dec 23, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7
Classifications
CWE-502, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=7.3.9.GA, 7.4.0.GA

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7version=7.3.9.GA, 7.4.0.GA

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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