# CVE-2021-23894: Unauthorized deserialization of untrusted data in McAfee DBSec

> Remote unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code with administrator privileges via malicious Java serialized objects in McAfee DBSec.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Jun 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-86cp-mgj2-w853

## What is CVE-2021-23894?

CVE-2021-23894 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in McAfee,LLC McAfee Database Security (DBSec), published on 2 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in McAfee Database Security (DBSec) prior to 4.8.2 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to create a reverse shell with administrator privileges on the DBSec server via carefully constructed Java serialized object sent to the DBSec server.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-23894?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mcafee Database Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-23894?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-23894 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-23894 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23894 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in McAfee,LLC McAfee Database Security (DBSec)

- [CVE-2021-23895](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23895/): Authorized deserialization of untrusted data in McAfee DBSec (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2020-7339](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7339/): Database Security(DBS)-Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2021-31850](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31850/): Denial of Service in Database Security on Windows (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2021-31830](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-31830/): Cross site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in McAfee DBSec (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2019-3615](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3615/): Data Leakage Vulnerability in McAfee Database Security web interface (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-23894 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-23894 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in McAfee,LLC McAfee Database Security (DBSec), published on 2 Jun 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23894 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: McAfee,LLC McAfee Database Security (DBSec). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23894/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23894/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-23894
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23894
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-23894

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23894/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.