CVE-2021-23894

Administrator reverse shell via unsafe Java deserialization

Published Jun 2, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Deserialization of untrusted data in McAfee Database Security before 4.8.2 allows remote attackers to create an administrator reverse shell. The DBSec server processes a carefully constructed Java serialized object through its deserialization path, causing attacker-controlled command execution. No authentication or user interaction is required, but the attacker must have adjacent-network access to the server; exploitation grants administrator privileges.

CVSS severity9.6
Critical
EPSS probability2.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Deserialization of untrusted data in McAfee Database Security before 4.8.2 allows remote attackers to create an administrator reverse shell. The DBSec server processes a carefully constructed Java serialized object through its deserialization path, causing attacker-controlled command execution. No authentication or user interaction is required, but the attacker must have adjacent-network access to the server; exploitation grants administrator privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-23894
Published
Jun 2, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
McAfee
Product
McAfee Database Security
Classifications
CWE-502, T1210
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 2, 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=unspecified <4.8.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

McAfee · McAfee Database Securityversion=unspecified <4.8.2

Published CVSS scores

9.6TrellixCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
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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