# CVE-2019-9843: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in DiffPlug Spotless

> An attacker can disclose file contents to a MITM attacker if a victim processes an untrusted XML file using the Spotless library.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Mar 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7v35-qwwj-p98g

## What is CVE-2019-9843?

CVE-2019-9843 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 15 Mar 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In DiffPlug Spotless before 1.20.0 (library and Maven plugin) and before 3.20.0 (Gradle plugin), the XML parser would resolve external entities over both HTTP and HTTPS and didn't respect the resolveExternalEntities setting. For example, this allows disclosure of file contents to a MITM attacker if a victim performs a spotlessApply operation on an untrusted XML file.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-9843?

4 open source packages ship an affected version, including com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-maven-plugin and com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-plugin-gradle. It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-maven-plugin` | Maven | All versions | 1.20.0 |
| `com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-maven-plugin` | Maven | All versions | 1.20.0 |
| `com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-plugin-gradle` | Maven | All versions | 3.20.0 |
| `com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-plugin-gradle` | Maven | All versions | 3.20.0 |

Products: Diffplug Gradle, Diffplug Maven.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-9843?

Upgrade com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-maven-plugin to 1.20.0 or later.

## Is CVE-2019-9843 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-9843 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-9843 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-9843 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 15 Mar 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-9843 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-maven-plugin (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 1.20.0
- com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-maven-plugin (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 1.20.0
- com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-plugin-gradle (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.20.0
- com.diffplug.spotless:spotless-plugin-gradle (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.20.0

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-2019-9843/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9843/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-9843
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-9843
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-9843

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9843/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.