# CVE-2012-0213: Denial of Service in Apache POI

> Remote attackers can cause denial of service in applications using Apache POI by sending crafted CDF or CFBF documents with malicious length values.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Aug 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-2468-1, GHSA-jqx5-h2hw-5q4f

## What is CVE-2012-0213?

CVE-2012-0213 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Aug 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The UnhandledDataStructure function in hwpf/model/UnhandledDataStructure.java in Apache POI 3.8 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (OutOfMemoryError exception and possibly JVM destabilization) via a crafted length value in a Channel Definition Format (CDF) or Compound File Binary Format (CFBF) document.

Weakness: CWE-399

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-0213?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.poi:poi and org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.apache.poi:poi` | Maven | All versions | 3.10-beta1 |
| `org.apache.poi:poi` | Maven | All versions | 3.10-beta1 |
| `org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad` | Maven | All versions | 3.10-beta1 |
| `org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad` | Maven | All versions | 3.10-beta1 |

Products: Apache Poi.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-0213?

Upgrade org.apache.poi:poi to 3.10-beta1 or later.

## Is CVE-2012-0213 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-0213 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2017-12626](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12626/): Denial of Service in Apache POI (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2022-26336](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26336/): A carefully crafted TNEF file can cause an out of memory exception (medium 5.5)
- [CVE-2019-12415](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-12415/): Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache POI (medium 5.5)
- [CVE-2017-5644](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-5644/): Improper Restriction of Recursive Entity References in DTDs in Apache POI (medium 5.5)
- [CVE-2016-5000](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5000/): Apache POI's XLSX2CSV Example XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-0213 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-0213 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Aug 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-0213 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.apache.poi:poi (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.10-beta1
- org.apache.poi:poi (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.10-beta1
- org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.10-beta1
- org.apache.poi:poi-scratchpad (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.10-beta1

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0213/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0213/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-0213
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-0213
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-0213

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0213/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.