# CVE-2017-12216: XML external entity in Cisco SocialMiner

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can achieve code execution and file access via XXE in Cisco SocialMiner by tricking admins into importing malicious XML.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** No
- **Published:** 7 Sep 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8cxf-788q-xf3g

## What is CVE-2017-12216?

CVE-2017-12216 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco SocialMiner, published on 7 Sep 2017. 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

A vulnerability in the web-based user interface of Cisco SocialMiner could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to have read and write access to information stored in the affected system. The vulnerability is due to improper handling of XML External Entity (XXE) entries when parsing an XML file. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by convincing the administrator of an affected system to import a crafted XML file with malicious entries, which could allow the attacker to read and write files and execute remote code within the application. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf47946.

Weakness: CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference), CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-12216?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Socialminer.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-12216?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-12216 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-12216 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-12216 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco SocialMiner

- [CVE-2019-1668](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1668/): Cisco SocialMiner Chat Feed Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2018-15435](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-15435/): Cisco SocialMiner Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2017-6702](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-6702/): Cross-site scripting in Cisco SocialMiner (medium 6.1)
- [CVE-2018-0290](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0290/): Denial of service in Cisco SocialMiner Notification System (medium 5.3)
- [CVE-2013-5489](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-5489/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 5.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-12216 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-12216 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco SocialMiner, published on 7 Sep 2017. 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-2017-12216 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco SocialMiner. 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-2017-12216/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12216/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-12216
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12216
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-12216

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12216/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.