# CVE-2021-29781: Deserialization in Partner Engagement Manager

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on IBM Partner Engagement Manager via unsafe deserialization of specially-crafted data.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/UI:N/A:H/I:H/PR:N/AV:N/S:U/AC:L/C:H/RL:O/RC:C/E:U`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5jx2-646m-994c

## What is CVE-2021-29781?

CVE-2021-29781 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in IBM Partner Engagement Manager, published on 30 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM Partner Engagement Manager 2.0 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by an unsafe deserialization flaw. By sending specially-crafted data, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 203091.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-29781?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Partner Engagement Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-29781?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-29781 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-29781 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-29781 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM Partner Engagement Manager

- [CVE-2022-22360](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22360/): Other in Sterling Partner Engagement Manager (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2022-22358](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22358/): XML external entity in Sterling Partner Engagement Manager (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2022-22328](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22328/): Privilege escalation in SterlingPartner Engagement Manager (medium 6.2)
- [CVE-2022-22332](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22332/): Security feature bypass in Sterling Partner Engagement Manager (medium 5.6)
- [CVE-2022-22416](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22416/): Server-side request forgery in Sterling Partner Engagement Manager (medium 5.4)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-29781 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-29781 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in IBM Partner Engagement Manager, published on 30 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-29781 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM Partner Engagement Manager. 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-2021-29781/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29781/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-29781
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29781
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-29781

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29781/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.