# CVE-2023-45146: Remote code execution in XXL-RPC

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code on servers using XXL-RPC with Netty and Hessian by sending malicious serialized objects.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 18 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 29 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-f984-3wx8-grp9

## What is CVE-2023-45146?

CVE-2023-45146 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in xuexueli xxl-rpc, published on 18 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

XXL-RPC is a high performance, distributed RPC framework. With it, a TCP server can be set up using the Netty framework and the Hessian serialization mechanism. When such a configuration is used, attackers may be able to connect to the server and provide malicious serialized objects that, once deserialized, force it to execute arbitrary code. This can be abused to take control of the machine the server is running by way of remote code execution. This issue has not been fixed.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-45146?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including com.xuxueli:xxl-rpc-core. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `com.xuxueli:xxl-rpc-core` | Maven | All versions to 1.7.0 | None |
| `com.xuxueli:xxl-rpc-core` | Maven | All versions to 1.7.0 | None |

Products: Xxl-Rpc Project Xxl-Rpc.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-45146?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-45146 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-45146 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-45146 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in xuexueli xxl-rpc

- [CVE-2023-33496](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33496/): xxl-rpc deserialization vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-45146 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-45146 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in xuexueli xxl-rpc, published on 18 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-45146 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- com.xuxueli:xxl-rpc-core (Maven): affected all versions up to 1.7.0; no fix listed
- com.xuxueli:xxl-rpc-core (Maven): affected all versions up to 1.7.0; 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-2023-45146/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45146/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-45146
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45146
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-45146

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45146/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.