CVE-2021-20353Network attack vector

Information disclosure via EDataGraphImpl deserialization

Published Feb 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Deserialization in EDataGraphImpl in IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive data. The class fails to validate user-supplied serialized data before deserializing it, enabling information disclosure in the root context. No authentication or user interaction is required; IBM also reports that crafted XML can consume memory and interrupt service.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability5.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Deserialization in EDataGraphImpl in IBM WebSphere Application Server 7.0, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive data. The class fails to validate user-supplied serialized data before deserializing it, enabling information disclosure in the root context. No authentication or user interaction is required; IBM also reports that crafted XML can consume memory and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-20353
Published
Feb 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM WebSphere Application Server
Classifications
CWE-611, T1005, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=7.0
  2. Affected versionversion=8.0
  3. Affected versionversion=8.5
  4. Affected versionversion=9.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM WebSphere Application Serverversion=7.0; version=8.0; version=8.5; version=9.0

Published CVSS scores

8.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L
6.4NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:P
8.2IBM CorporationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
T1005Data from Local System
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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