# CVE-2021-37181: Deserialization in Cerberus DMS V4.0

> Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary code via unsafe deserialization in Siemens Cerberus DMS and Desigo CC building management systems.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xxcg-h8cr-979m

## What is CVE-2021-37181?

CVE-2021-37181 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Siemens Cerberus DMS V4.0, published on 14 Sep 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been identified in Cerberus DMS V4.0 (All versions), Cerberus DMS V4.1 (All versions), Cerberus DMS V4.2 (All versions), Cerberus DMS V5.0 (All versions < v5.0 QU1), Desigo CC Compact V4.0 (All versions), Desigo CC Compact V4.1 (All versions), Desigo CC Compact V4.2 (All versions), Desigo CC Compact V5.0 (All versions < V5.0 QU1), Desigo CC V4.0 (All versions), Desigo CC V4.1 (All versions), Desigo CC V4.2 (All versions), Desigo CC V5.0 (All versions < V5.0 QU1). The application deserialises untrusted data without sufficient validations, that could result in an arbitrary deserialization. This could allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute code in the affected system. The CCOM communication component used for Windows App / Click-Once and IE Web / XBAP client connectivity are affected by the vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-37181?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Siemens Cerberus Dms, Siemens Desigo Cc, Siemens Desigo Cc Compact.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-37181?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-37181 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-37181 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-37181 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Siemens Cerberus DMS V4.0

- [CVE-2022-33139](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-33139/): Auth bypass in Cerberus DMS (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-37181 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-37181 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Siemens Cerberus DMS V4.0, published on 14 Sep 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-2021-37181 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Siemens Cerberus DMS V4.0. 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-2021-37181/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37181/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-37181
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37181
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-37181

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37181/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.