IRONSMITHINTEL
CRITICALCVSS9.8
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2021-35464|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

ForgeRock Access Management (AM) Core Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

ForgeRock Access Management (AM) Core Server allows an attacker who sends a specially crafted HTTP request to one of three endpoints (/ccversion/Version, /ccversion/Masthead, or /ccversion/ButtonFrame) to execute code in the context of the current user (unless ForgeRock AM is running as root user, which the vendor does not recommend).

Published Jul 22, 2021 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. CISA has confirmed use of this vulnerability in known ransomware campaigns — treat as high priority for remediation. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2021-11-17 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in ForgeRock Access Management (AM). ForgeRock AM server before 7.0 has a Java deserialization vulnerability in the jato.pageSession parameter on multiple pages. The exploitation does not require authentication, and remote code execution can be triggered by sending a single crafted /ccversion/* request to the server. The vulnerability exists due to the usage of Sun ONE Application Framework (JATO) found in versions of Java 8 or earlier Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.

📧

Phishing link

🖼

Malicious file

🔓

Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

IT Security
Running access management: v < 6.5.4; openam: 9.0.0 ≤ v < 14.6.3
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Used in known ransomware campaigns. Threat-research write-up: http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/163486/ForgeRock-OpenAM-Jato-Java-Deserialization.html

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: https://backstage.forgerock.com/knowledge/kb/article/a47894244
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-35464
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-35464
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