Application termination via deeply nested object injection
Published Sep 16, 2022 · Updated Apr 21, 2025
Denial of service in XStream 1.4.19 and earlier allows remote attackers to terminate applications through crafted XML. The fromXML unmarshalling path recursively instantiates attacker-supplied, deeply nested set objects until Java raises a StackOverflowError. Exposure requires an embedding application to pass attacker-controlled XML to XStream; the resulting thread abort can terminate the hosting application.
Summary
What happened
Denial of service in XStream 1.4.19 and earlier allows remote attackers to terminate applications through crafted XML. The fromXML unmarshalling path recursively instantiates attacker-supplied, deeply nested set objects until Java raises a StackOverflowError. Exposure requires an embedding application to pass attacker-controlled XML to XStream; the resulting thread abort can terminate the hosting application.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-40151
- Published
- Sep 16, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 21, 2025
- Vendor
- XStream
- Product
- XStream
- Classifications
- CWE-121, CWE-502, CWE-787, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 21, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=1.4.19
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Deeply nested set XML reproductionproof of concept · demonstrated
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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