# CVE-2012-3489: XML external entity in n/a

> Authenticated users can exploit XML parsing to read arbitrary files or URLs, potentially exposing sensitive data.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Oct 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-fpq4-mcf9-c5w9

## What is CVE-2012-3489?

CVE-2012-3489 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X Server, published on 3 Oct 2012. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The xml_parse function in the libxml2 support in the core server component in PostgreSQL 8.3 before 8.3.20, 8.4 before 8.4.13, 9.0 before 9.0.9, and 9.1 before 9.1.5 allows remote authenticated users to determine the existence of arbitrary files or URLs, and possibly obtain file or URL content that triggers a parsing error, via an XML value that refers to (1) a DTD or (2) an entity, related to an XML External Entity (aka XXE) issue.

Weakness: CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-3489?

It affects 9 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X Server, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Opensuse Opensuse, Postgresql Postgresql, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-3489?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2012-3489 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-3489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X Server

- [CVE-2015-5911](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-5911/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-4223](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4223/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2010-0510](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0510/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2010-0522](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0522/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2015-5722](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-5722/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-3489 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-3489 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X Server, published on 3 Oct 2012. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2012-3489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

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-2012-3489/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-3489/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-3489
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-3489
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-3489

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-3489/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.