# CVE-2021-23792: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection

> An attacker can trigger XML External Entity injection by supplying a malicious image file with crafted XMP metadata, potentially leading to data exposure or service disruption.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 May 2022
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2021-23792, GHSA-pjch-4g28-fxx7, SNYK-JAVA-COMTWELVEMONKEYSIMAGEIO-2316763, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-23792

## What is CVE-2021-23792?

CVE-2021-23792 is a high-severity vulnerability in com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata, published on 6 May 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The package com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata before 3.7.1 are vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) Injection due to an insecurely initialized XML parser for reading XMP Metadata. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability if they are able to supply a file (e.g. when an online profile picture is processed) with a malicious XMP segment. If the XMP metadata of the uploaded image is parsed, then the XXE vulnerability is triggered.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-23792?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata` | Maven | All versions | 3.7.1 |
| `com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata` | Maven | All versions | 3.7.1 |

Products: Twelvemonkeys Project Twelvemonkeys.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-23792?

Upgrade com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata to 3.7.1 or later.

## Is CVE-2021-23792 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23792 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-23792 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-23792 is a high-severity vulnerability in com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata, published on 6 May 2022. 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-2021-23792 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.7.1
- com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata (Maven): affected all versions; fixed in 3.7.1

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-2021-23792/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23792/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-23792
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-23792
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-23792

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-23792/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.