High

Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in iText

Disclosed: 13.05.2022
Updated: 11.10.2026 12:21

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.

Affected software

Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.

Platform	Package	Vulnerable versions	Fixed in
Java / Kotlin (Maven)	com.itextpdf:itextpdf	< 5.5.12, >= 7.0.0, < 7.0.3	5.5.12, 7.0.3
Java / Kotlin (Maven)	com.lowagie:itext	<= 4.2.2	no fix

References

CVSS score 8.8/10

CVSS vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness (CWE): CWE-611
Platform: Java / Kotlin (Maven)
Package: com.itextpdf:itextpdf, com.lowagie:itext
Disclosed: 13.05.2022
Updated: 11.10.2026 12:21

Sources and licenses

OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-86p9-x5pw-94qx - CC BY 4.0

Vulnerability history: com.itextpdf:itextpdf

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

Total entries: 2
First → latest: 12.2021 05.2022
Without a fix: 0
Exploited in attacks: 0

Severity breakdown

Critical 1
High 1

Disclosures per year

2021: 1
2022: 1
2023: 0
2024: 0
2025: 0
2026: 0

13.05.2022

Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in iText this entry

High · 8.8 CVE-2017-9096 < 5.5.12, >= 7.0.0, < 7.0.3 5.5.12, 7.0.3
16.12.2021

Command injection in itext7-core

Critical · 9.8 CVE-2021-43113 < 5.5.13.3 5.5.13.3

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