# CVE-2021-41616: Apache ddlutils 1.0 readobject vulnerability

> Insecure deserialization in Apache DB DdlUtils allows remote code execution via unsafe ObjectInputStream usage; the project is discontinued.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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:** 30 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 23 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9378-f4v7-jgm4

## What is CVE-2021-41616?

CVE-2021-41616 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache DB ddlutils, published on 30 Sep 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Apache DB DdlUtils 1.0 included a BinaryObjectsHelper that was intended for use when migrating database data with a SQL data type of BINARY, VARBINARY, LONGVARBINARY, or BLOB between databases using the ddlutils features. The BinaryObjectsHelper class was insecure and used ObjectInputStream.readObject without validating that the input data was safe to deserialize. Please note that DdlUtils is no longer being actively developed. To address the insecurity of the BinaryObjectHelper class, the following changes to DdlUtils have been made: (1) BinaryObjectsHelper.java has been deleted from the DdlUtils source repository and the DdlUtils feature of propagating data of SQL binary types is therefore no longer present in DdlUtils; (2) The ddlutils-1.0 release has been removed from the Apache Release Distribution Infrastructure; (3) The DdlUtils web site has been updated to indicate that DdlUtils is now available only as source code, not as a packaged release.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-41616?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.ddlutils:ddlutils. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.ddlutils:ddlutils` | Maven | All versions to 1.0 | None |
| `org.apache.ddlutils:ddlutils` | Maven | All versions to 1.0 | None |

Products: Apache Ddlutils.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-41616?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-41616 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-41616 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-41616 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-41616 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-41616 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Apache DB ddlutils, published on 30 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-2021-41616 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.ddlutils:ddlutils (Maven): affected all versions up to 1.0; no fix listed
- org.apache.ddlutils:ddlutils (Maven): affected all versions up to 1.0; no fix listed

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-2021-41616/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41616/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-41616
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-41616
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-41616

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41616/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.