CVE-2016-6798 json
XML External Entity Reference in Apache Sling
published 2017-07-19 9 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2022-2991 , GHSA-7g54-vgp6-jj5w
- cvss
- 9.8
- version 3.0, NVD
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 3.7%
- EPSS 3.7% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 89%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
In the XSS Protection API module before 1.0.12 in Apache Sling, the method XSS.getValidXML() uses an insecure SAX parser to validate the input string, which allows for XXE attacks in all scripts which use this method to validate user input, potentially allowing an attacker to read sensitive data on the filesystem, perform same-site-request-forgery (SSRF), port-scanning behind the firewall or DoS the application.
Patch / fix
- maven org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.xss 1.0.12
- maven org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.xss.compat 1.1.0
- org.apache.sling.xss compat 1.1.0
- org.apache.sling xss 1.0.12
Exploit prediction
3.67% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 89% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-09).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub | 3.0 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 3.0 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 7.5 | AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P |
Affected packages
| ecosystem | package | affected | fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| maven | org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.xss | <1.0.12 |
1.0.12 |
| maven | org.apache.sling:org.apache.sling.xss.compat | <1.1.0 |
1.1.0 |
Affected products
- Apache Software Foundation Apache Sling
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-611 Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
References
-
github.com
/apache/sling-org-apache-sling-xss/commit/de32b144ad2be3367559f6184d560db42a220529
web
- lists.apache.org /thread.html/b72c3a511592ec70729b3ec2d29302b6ce87bbeab62d4745617a6bd0%40%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%3E
-
securityfocus.com
/bid/99873
vdb-entry, web, third-party-advisory
-
nvd.nist.gov
/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6798
advisory
-
github.com
/jensdietrich/xshady-release/tree/main/CVE-2016-6798
web
-
lists.apache.org
/thread.html/b72c3a511592ec70729b3ec2d29302b6ce87bbeab62d4745617a6bd0@%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%3E
web
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2016-6798
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-7g54-vgp6-jj5w
- NVD CVE-2016-6798
Fencer Intel keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.
CPEs and fixed versions use Anchore's correction of NVD's data: Update CPE for accuracy.