CVE-2017-9096
The XML parsers in iText before 5.5.12 and 7.x before 7.0.3 do not disable external entities, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML external entity (XXE) attacks via a crafted PDF.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (9.56%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
The XML parsers in iText before 5.5.12 and 7.x before 7.0.3 do not disable external entities, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML external entity (XXE) attacks via a crafted PDF.
- CVSS 3.0
- 8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 9.56% probability · 95th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-611
- Affected
- itextpdf/itext
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 9.6% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/541483/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03902en_usThird Party Advisory
- https://www.compass-security.com/fileadmin/Datein/Research/Advisories/CSNC-2017-017_itext_xml_external_entity_attack.txtThird Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/541483/100/0/threadedThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03902en_usThird Party Advisory
- https://www.compass-security.com/fileadmin/Datein/Research/Advisories/CSNC-2017-017_itext_xml_external_entity_attack.txtThird Party Advisory
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.