# CVE-2019-4391: XML external entity in HCL AppScan Standard Edition

> An attacker can exploit XML External Entity injection in HCL AppScan Standard to read sensitive files or cause denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 8.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Apr 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h74j-999g-2xqf

## What is CVE-2019-4391?

CVE-2019-4391 is a high-severity vulnerability in HCL AppScan Standard Edition, published on 7 Apr 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

HCL AppScan Standard is vulnerable to XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-4391?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Hcltech Appscan.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-4391?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-4391 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-4391 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-4391 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in HCL AppScan Standard Edition

- [CVE-2019-4393](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4393/): Denial of service in HCL AppScan Standard Edition (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-4392](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4392/): Hardcoded credentials in HCL AppScan Standard Edition (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-4326](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4326/): Security feature bypass in "HCL AppScan Enterprise " (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-4327](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4327/): Hardcoded credentials in "HCL AppScan Enterprise Edition" (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-4324](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4324/): Cross-site scripting in "HCL AppScan Enterprise" (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-4391 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-4391 is a high-severity vulnerability in HCL AppScan Standard Edition, published on 7 Apr 2020. 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-2019-4391 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: HCL AppScan Standard Edition. 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-2019-4391/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4391/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-4391
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-4391
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-4391

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4391/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.