# CVE-2019-15983: Cisco Data Center Network Manager XML External Entity Read Access Vulnerability

> Authenticated attackers with admin privileges can read arbitrary files via XXE in the SOAP API of Cisco Data Center Network Manager.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.9 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Jan 2020
- **Updated:** 15 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gpxg-79q3-j6cm

## What is CVE-2019-15983?

CVE-2019-15983 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Data Center Network Manager, published on 6 Jan 2020. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability in the SOAP API of Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to gain read access to information that is stored on an affected system. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need administrative privileges on the DCNM application. The vulnerability exists because the SOAP API improperly handles XML External Entity (XXE) entries when parsing certain XML files. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by inserting malicious XML content in an API request. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to read arbitrary files from the affected device. Note: The severity of this vulnerability is aggravated by the vulnerabilities described in the Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities advisory, published simultaneously with this one.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-15983?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cisco Data Center Network Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-15983?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-15983 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-15983 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-15983 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cisco Data Center Network Manager

- [CVE-2020-3382](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-3382/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-15975](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15975/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-15976](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15976/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-15977](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15977/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-1619](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1619/): Cisco Data Center Network Manager Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-15983 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-15983 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Data Center Network Manager, published on 6 Jan 2020. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-15983 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cisco Data Center Network Manager. 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-2019-15983/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15983/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-15983
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-15983
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-15983

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15983/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.