# CVE-2021-23463: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection

> An attacker can exploit XML External Entity injection in the H2 database library to read sensitive files or cause denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H/E:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7rpj-hg47-cx62, SNYK-JAVA-COMH2DATABASE-1769238

## What is CVE-2021-23463?

CVE-2021-23463 is a high-severity vulnerability in com.h2database:h2, published on 10 Dec 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The package com.h2database:h2 from 1.4.198 and before 2.0.202 are vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) Injection via the org.h2.jdbc.JdbcSQLXML class object, when it receives parsed string data from org.h2.jdbc.JdbcResultSet.getSQLXML() method. If it executes the getSource() method when the parameter is DOMSource.class it will trigger the vulnerability.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-23463?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including com.h2database:h2. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `com.h2database:h2` | Maven | From 1.4.198 | 2.0.202 |
| `com.h2database:h2` | Maven | From 1.4.198 | 2.0.202 |

Products: H2database H2.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-23463?

Upgrade com.h2database:h2 to 2.0.202 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-23463 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23463 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in com.h2database:h2

- [CVE-2022-45868](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-45868/): Password exposure in H2 Database (high 8.4)
- [CVE-2018-14335](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-14335/): Path traversal in n/a (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-23463 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-23463 is a high-severity vulnerability in com.h2database:h2, published on 10 Dec 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23463 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- com.h2database:h2 (Maven): affected from 1.4.198; fixed in 2.0.202
- com.h2database:h2 (Maven): affected from 1.4.198; fixed in 2.0.202

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-2021-23463/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23463/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-23463
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23463
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-23463

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23463/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.