# CVE-2018-11048: XML external entity in Data Protection Advisor

> Authenticated attackers can exploit XXE in the REST API to read system files or cause denial of service on Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor and IDPA.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Aug 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-ww27-qpc9-x958

## What is CVE-2018-11048?

CVE-2018-11048 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor, published on 10 Aug 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor, versions 6.2, 6,3, 6.4, 6.5 and Dell EMC Integrated Data Protection Appliance (IDPA) versions 2.0, 2.1 contain a XML External Entity (XXE) Injection vulnerability in the REST API. An authenticated remote malicious user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to read certain system files in the server or cause denial of service by supplying specially crafted Document Type Definitions (DTDs) in an XML request.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-11048?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Dell Emc Data Protection Advisor, Dell Emc Integrated Data Protection Appliance.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-11048?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-11048 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-11048 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-11048 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor

- [CVE-2019-18581](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18581/): Missing authorization in Data Protection Advisor (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2019-18582](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18582/): Code injection in Data Protection Advisor (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2020-5352](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5352/): Command injection in Data Protection Advisor (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-5351](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-5351/): Hardcoded credentials in Data Protection Advisor (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2016-8211](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8211/): Path traversal in EMC Data Protection Advisor EMC Data Protection Advisor 6.1.x, EMC Data Protection Advisor 6.2, EMC Data Protection Advisor 6.2.1, EMC Data Protection Advisor 6.2.2, EMC Data Protection Advisor 6.2.3 prior to patch 446 (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-11048 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-11048 is a high-severity vulnerability in Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor, published on 10 Aug 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-11048 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Dell EMC Data Protection Advisor. 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-2018-11048/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11048/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-11048
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11048
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-11048

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11048/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.