Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-20190 is a high-severity flaw in jackson-databind, a common Java JSON library. In affected versions before 2.9.10.7, unsafe deserialization behavior can threaten confidentiality, integrity, and availability when specific typing and gadget conditions are present.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority where jackson-databind is present in exposed Java services. Absence from KEV lowers emergency signals, but the impact profile justifies timely dependency review and patch coordination.
Technical view
The CVE describes CWE-502 deserialization risk from jackson-databind mishandling serialization gadgets and typing. CVSS 3.1 is 8.1 with network attack vector, no privileges or user interaction, but high attack complexity. The source bundle does not provide exploit details or complete configuration prerequisites.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in Java applications or products using jackson-databind before 2.9.10.7, including downstream packaged software noted by vendor and distribution advisories. Prioritize internet-facing services that deserialize untrusted JSON with polymorphic typing or similar risky configurations.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not indicate CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector shows remote reachability but high complexity, suggesting exploitation depends on application configuration, available gadget classes, and deserialization paths.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a jackson-databind deserialization issue tied to gadgets and typing. The bundle lacks exploit proof, affected configuration detail, and complete downstream product mapping, so validation should focus on actual dependency versions and deserialization behavior.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade jackson-databind according to vendor guidance; sources identify versions before 2.9.10.7.
- Review vendor advisories for downstream products embedding jackson-databind.
- Disable or restrict unsafe polymorphic typing where application design allows.
- Avoid deserializing untrusted data into broad or polymorphic object types.
- Track distro and appliance patches from affected vendors.
Validation and detection
- Inventory direct and transitive jackson-databind versions in application builds.
- Confirm deployed runtime artifacts resolve to a fixed or vendor-supported version.
- Review code paths that deserialize untrusted JSON input.
- Check whether default typing or polymorphic typing is enabled.
- Correlate findings with Debian, Oracle, NetApp, and project advisories.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-502: Code execution behavior lookup
Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-20190 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/FasterXML/jackson-databind/issues/2854CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1916633CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- [nifi-commits] 20210222 svn commit: r1886814 - /nifi/site/trunk/security.htmlCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210424 [SECURITY] [DLA 2638-1] jackson-databind security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210219-0008/CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Deserialization of Untrusted Data
Deserialization of Untrusted Data represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.