# CVE-2018-20157: XML external entity in n/a

> Attackers can read arbitrary files via XXE in OpenRefine's data import functionality using a crafted zip file.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q3w8-xp79-mqph

## What is CVE-2018-20157?

CVE-2018-20157 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Dec 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The data import functionality in OpenRefine through 3.1 allows an XML External Entity (XXE) attack through a crafted (zip) file, allowing attackers to read arbitrary files.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-20157?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Openrefine Openrefine.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-20157?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-20157 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-20157 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-20157 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-41887](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-41887/): Remote Code exec in project import with mysql jdbc url attack (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-47878](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47878/): Reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability (XSS) in GData extension (authorized.vt) (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-47880](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47880/): OpenRefine has a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability from POST request in ExportRowsCommand (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-47881](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47881/): OpenRefine's SQLite integration allows filesystem access, remote code execution (RCE) (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2024-47879](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47879/): OpenRefine's PreviewExpressionCommand, which is eval, lacks protection against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) (high 7.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-20157 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-20157 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Dec 2018. 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-2018-20157 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2018-20157/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20157/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20157
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20157
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-20157

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20157/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.