# CVE-2018-14720: XML External Entity Reference (XXE) in jackson-databind > Attackers can exploit external XML entity injection in jackson-databind to read sensitive data or cause denial of service. - **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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:** Not needed - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 2 Jan 2019 - **Updated:** 15 Oct 2026 - **Also known as:** CLEANSTART-2026-AC73496, DEBIAN-CVE-2018-14720, GHSA-x2w5-5m2g-7h5m, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-14720 ## What is CVE-2018-14720? CVE-2018-14720 is a critical vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 2 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim. ### Official description FasterXML jackson-databind 2.x before 2.9.7 might allow attackers to conduct external XML entity (XXE) attacks by leveraging failure to block unspecified JDK classes from polymorphic deserialization. Weakness: CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference), CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-14720? 6 open source packages ship an affected version, including com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind. It affects 12 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind` | Maven | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.9.5 | | `com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind` | Maven | From 2.7.0 | 2.7.9.5 | | `com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind` | Maven | From 2.8.0 | 2.8.11.3 | | `com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind` | Maven | From 2.8.0 | 2.8.11.3 | | `com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind` | Maven | From 2.9.0 | 2.9.7 | | `com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind` | Maven | From 2.9.0 | 2.9.7 | Products: Debian Debian Linux, Fasterxml Jackson-Databind, Oracle Banking Platform, Oracle Communications Billing and Revenue Management, Oracle Enterprise Manager for Virtualization, Oracle Financial Services Analytical Applications Infrastructure, Oracle Jdeveloper, Oracle Primavera Unifier, Oracle Retail Merchandising System, Oracle Webcenter Portal, Redhat Jboss Enterprise Application Platform, Redhat Openshift Container Platform. ## How do I fix CVE-2018-14720? Upgrade com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind to a fixed version for your release line: 2.7.9.5, 2.8.11.3 or 2.9.7. ## Is CVE-2018-14720 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-14720 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux - [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2018-14720 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2018-14720 is a critical vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 2 Jan 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-14720 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (Maven): affected from 2.7.0; fixed in 2.7.9.5 - com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (Maven): affected from 2.7.0; fixed in 2.7.9.5 - com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (Maven): affected from 2.8.0; fixed in 2.8.11.3 - com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (Maven): affected from 2.8.0; fixed in 2.8.11.3 - com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (Maven): affected from 2.9.0; fixed in 2.9.7 - com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind (Maven): affected from 2.9.0; fixed in 2.9.7 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-2018-14720/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14720/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14720 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-14720 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-14720 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14720/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.