CVE-2026-102101 in Kiteworks
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2026
Kiteworks Core before version 9.5.0 is vulnerable to Deserialization of Untrusted Data. A deserialization weakness in Kiteworks Core could, under certain conditions, allow crafted data to be deserialized unsafely, potentially resulting in remote code execution on the appliance. Exploitation depends on an attacker first being able to influence the affected data, so this issue is not exploitable on its own.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2026
The vulnerability identified in Kiteworks Core prior to version 9.5.0 represents a critical security flaw classified as Deserialization of Untrusted Data. This type of weakness occurs when an application accepts serialized objects from untrusted sources and deserializes them without sufficient validation or integrity checks. In the context of enterprise content management systems like Kiteworks, such functionality is often utilized for performance optimization, state preservation, or inter-component communication. However, if the underlying serialization mechanism does not strictly validate the class types being instantiated during the deserialization process, it creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious payloads that exploit built-in gadget chains within the Java runtime environment or other supported libraries.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-502, which describes the dangers associated with unsafe deserialization. When an application processes serialized data, it reconstructs objects in memory based on the metadata contained within that data stream. If the system allows arbitrary class names to be resolved and instantiated without a whitelist of allowed types, an attacker can craft a specially formatted payload containing malicious object graphs. These payloads are designed to trigger side effects during the reconstruction phase, such as executing commands or accessing sensitive resources, rather than simply creating benign objects for normal application operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for Remote Code Execution. If successfully exploited, an attacker could gain full control over the underlying operating system hosting the Kiteworks appliance. This level of access allows for complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data managed by the platform. Attackers could exfiltrate sensitive corporate documents, modify existing content to introduce malware or misinformation, or use the compromised server as a pivot point to attack other systems within the internal network. The severity is further amplified because Kiteworks often handles highly confidential organizational information, making it a high-value target for state-sponsored actors and criminal enterprises alike.
It is important to note that this vulnerability does not exist in isolation and requires specific conditions to be successfully exploited. As indicated by the vendor, exploitation depends on an attacker first being able to influence or inject data into the affected component. This implies that there must be a preceding vector, such as a cross-site scripting flaw, authentication bypass, or another input validation weakness, that allows the malicious serialized payload to reach the vulnerable deserialization endpoint. Consequently, while the core issue is critical, it functions as part of a chain rather than a standalone entry point for unauthenticated remote code execution in most default configurations.
From an offensive security perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically under sub-techniques related to system commands or scripting engines like Java. The exploitation phase corresponds to T1203 Software Exploitation, where the attacker leverages a software flaw to execute arbitrary code. Understanding these mappings helps security teams prioritize detection rules and incident response procedures focused on monitoring for unusual process creation events originating from application server processes that typically do not spawn command-line interpreters or scripting engines.
Mitigation strategies must focus primarily on upgrading the Kiteworks Core platform to version 9.5.0 or later, where this deserialization weakness has been addressed through stricter input validation and class whitelisting mechanisms. For organizations unable to immediately patch due to compatibility constraints, implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls can help detect and block known malicious serialization patterns. Additionally, enforcing strict least-privilege principles for the service account running the Kiteworks application limits the potential damage if exploitation occurs by restricting file system access and preventing privilege escalation to root or administrator levels on the host operating system.