XML External Entity injection in CycloneDX Core Java

1) XML External Entity injection

EUVDB-ID: #VU119089

Risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 6.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-64518

CWE-ID: CWE-611 - Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference ('XXE')

Exploit availability: No

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to gain access to sensitive information.

The vulnerability exists due to insufficient validation of user-supplied XML input. A remote attacker can pass a specially crafted XML code to the affected application and view contents of arbitrary files on the system or initiate requests to external systems.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability may allow an attacker to view contents of arbitrary file on the server or perform network scanning of internal and external infrastructure.

Note, the vulnerability exists due to an incomplete fix for #VU119088 (CVE-2024-38374).

Mitigation

Install updates from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

CycloneDX Core Java: 1.0.0 - 11.0.0

CPE2.3

• cpe:2.3:a:cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java:1.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

External links

https://cheatsheetseries.owasp.org/cheatsheets/XML_External_Entity_Prevention_Cheat_Sheet.html#schemafactory
https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-core-java/commit/162aa594f347b3f612fe0a45071693c3cd398ce9
https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-core-java/commit/af0ec75c93c03f93733a070c5132554490af5314
https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-core-java/pull/737
https://github.com/CycloneDX/cyclonedx-core-java/security/advisories/GHSA-6fhj-vr9j-g45r

Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.