# CVE-2021-29140: XML external entity in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager

> Remote attackers can exploit an XML external entity vulnerability in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager to read sensitive data or cause denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 8.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m24f-wh87-6pqq

## What is CVE-2021-29140?

CVE-2021-29140 is a high-severity vulnerability in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager, published on 29 Apr 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A remote XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability was discovered in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager version(s): Prior to 6.9.5, 6.8.9, 6.7.14-HF1. Aruba has released patches for Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager that address this security vulnerability.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-29140?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Arubanetworks Clearpass.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-29140?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-29140 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-29140 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-29140 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager

- [CVE-2014-5342](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5342/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-6626](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6626/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2021-29145](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29145/): Server-side request forgery in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-7114](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7114/): Missing authorization in ClearPass Policy Manager (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-4401](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4401/): Information disclosure in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-29140 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-29140 is a high-severity vulnerability in Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager, published on 29 Apr 2021. 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-2021-29140 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager. 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-2021-29140/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29140/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-29140
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-29140
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-29140

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-29140/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.