# CVE-2019-16941: XML external entity in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via malicious XML files in Ghidra's Bit Patterns Explorer when experimental mode is enabled.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** No
- **Published:** 28 Sep 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gwg5-3r5x-cw74

## What is CVE-2019-16941?

CVE-2019-16941 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Sep 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

NSA Ghidra through 9.0.4, when experimental mode is enabled, allows arbitrary code execution if the Read XML Files feature of Bit Patterns Explorer is used with a modified XML document. This occurs in Features/BytePatterns/src/main/java/ghidra/bitpatterns/info/FileBitPatternInfoReader.java. An attack could start with an XML document that was originally created by DumpFunctionPatternInfoScript but then directly modified by an attacker (for example, to make a java.lang.Runtime.exec call).

Weakness: CWE-91 (XML Injection)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-16941?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Nsa Ghidra.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-16941?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-16941 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-16941 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-16941 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- PoC for CVE-2019-16941 (github_poc): https://github.com/purpleracc00n/CVE-2019-16941

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-22671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22671/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-13625](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13625/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-4946](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-4946/): NSA Ghidra Auto-Analysis Annotation Command Execution (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-49498](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-49498/): Ghidra 11.0 < 12.1 - SQL Injection in PostgreSQL Password Change via Unescaped Username (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2026-52754](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-52754/): Ghidra < 12.1 - Authentication Bypass via Null Signature in PKIAuthenticationModule (high 8.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-16941 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-16941 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 28 Sep 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-2019-16941 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-2019-16941/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16941/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16941
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-16941
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-16941

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16941/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.