# CVE-2019-4539: XML external entity in Security Directory Server

> Attackers can exploit improper XML neutralization in IBM Security Directory Server to modify XML syntax, content, or commands.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`CVSS:3.0/PR:L/A:H/I:L/AV:N/S:U/C:N/AC:L/UI:N/E:U/RC:C/RL:O`)
- **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:** 2 Oct 2019
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vpj2-4h83-h98j

## What is CVE-2019-4539?

CVE-2019-4539 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM Security Directory Server, published on 2 Oct 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

IBM Security Directory Server 6.4.0 does not properly neutralize special elements that are used in XML, allowing attackers to modify the syntax, content, or commands of the XML before it is processed by an end system. IBM X-Force ID: 165812.

Weakness: CWE-91 (XML Injection)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-4539?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ibm Security Directory Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-4539?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-4539 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-4539 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-4539 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in IBM Security Directory Server

- [CVE-2022-33164](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-33164/): IBM Security Directory Server path traversal (high 8.7)
- [CVE-2019-4520](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4520/): Security feature bypass in Security Directory Server (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2015-1977](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1977/): Path traversal in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-4538](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4538/): Open redirect in Security Directory Server (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2019-4541](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4541/): Security feature bypass in Security Directory Server (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-4539 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-4539 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM Security Directory Server, published on 2 Oct 2019. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-4539 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: IBM Security Directory Server. 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-2019-4539/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4539/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-4539
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-4539
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-4539

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-4539/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.