# CVE-2018-2477: XML external entity in Knowledge Management (XMLForms) in SAP NetWeaver

> An attacker can exploit insufficient XML validation in SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management to read sensitive data or cause denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 13 Nov 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gwj3-xxgq-gmc6

## What is CVE-2018-2477?

CVE-2018-2477 is a high-severity vulnerability in Sap Netweaver, published on 13 Nov 2018. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Knowledge Management (XMLForms) in SAP NetWeaver, versions 7.30, 7.31, 7.40 and 7.50 does not sufficiently validate an XML document accepted from an untrusted source.

Weakness: CWE-91 (XML Injection)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-2477?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sap Netweaver.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-2477?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-2477 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-2477 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-2477 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Sap Netweaver

- [CVE-2025-31324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-31324/): SAP NetWeaver Unrestricted File Upload (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-38163](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38163/): SAP NetWeaver Unrestricted File Upload (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-42999](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-42999/): SAP NetWeaver Deserialization (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6822](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6822/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-1517](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1517/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-2477 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-2477 is a high-severity vulnerability in Sap Netweaver, published on 13 Nov 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-2018-2477 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Sap Netweaver. 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-2018-2477/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-2477/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-2477
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-2477
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-2477

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-2477/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.