CVE-2021-23901 An XML external entity (XXE) injection vulnerability exists in the Nutch DmozParser
An attacker can exploit an XML external entity injection in Apache Nutch to read server files and interact with backend systems.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2021-23901?
CVE-2021-23901 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Nutch, published on 25 Jan 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
An XML external entity (XXE) injection vulnerability was discovered in the Nutch DmozParser and is known to affect Nutch versions < 1.18. XML external entity injection (also known as XXE) is a web security vulnerability that allows an attacker to interfere with an application's processing of XML data. It often allows an attacker to view files on the application server filesystem, and to interact with any back-end or external systems that the application itself can access. This issue is fixed in Apache Nutch 1.18.
Weakness: CWE-611
Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-23901?
2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.apache.nutch:nutch. It affects 2 products.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.nutch:nutch Maven | All versions | 1.18 |
org.apache.nutch:nutch Maven | All versions | 1.18 |
Linux distribution packages (19)
cpu-mitigations-formula SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 0.3-4.9.2 |
nutch-core SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 1.0.1-4.5.2 |
smdba SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 1.7.8-0.3.3.2 |
spacecmd SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.22-3.25.2 |
spacewalk-backend SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.36-3.41.2 |
spacewalk-branding SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.19-3.21.3 |
spacewalk-certs-tools SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.18-3.24.2 |
spacewalk-java SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.41-3.51.2 |
spacewalk-reports SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.6-3.3.2 |
spacewalk-utils SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.19-3.24.2 |
spacewalk-web SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.26-3.39.3 |
supportutils-plugin-susemanager SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.5-3.6.2 |
susemanager-doc-indexes SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0-10.30.2 |
susemanager-docs_en SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0-10.30.2 |
susemanager-frontend-libs SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.3-4.6.2 |
susemanager-schema SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.24-3.35.2 |
susemanager-sls SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.32-3.40.2 |
susemanager-sync-data SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.0 | All versions | 4.0.20-3.32.2 |
nutch-core SUSE:Manager Server Module 4.1 | All versions | 1.0.1-4.3.1 |
Products include Apache Nutch, Netapp Snap Creator Framework.
How do I fix CVE-2021-23901?
Upgrade org.apache.nutch:nutch to 1.18 or later.
Is CVE-2021-23901 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-23901 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Apache Nutch
- CVE-2026-41871 Apache Nutch: Unauthenticated reflection-based job execution in Nutch Server (Nutch REST API)
- CVE-2016-6809 Apache Tika allows Java code execution for serialized objects embedded in MATLAB files
- CVE-2026-41869 Apache Nutch: Unauthenticated forced shutdown and job interruption in Nutch Server (Nutch REST API)
- CVE-2026-41870 Apache Nutch: Unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) via JEXL injection in Nutch Server (Nutch REST API)
Sources
Also known as GHSA-fxhp-wrw9-3r97, SUSE-SU-2021:0323-1, SUSE-SU-2021:0448-1.