# CVE-2021-37531: Command injection in SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management XML Forms

> Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands via malicious XSL stylesheets in SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management, leading to full system compromise.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.9 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-wjr5-qv82-83cr

## What is CVE-2021-37531?

CVE-2021-37531 is a critical command injection vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management XML Forms, published on 14 Sep 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management XML Forms versions - 7.10, 7.11, 7.30, 7.31, 7.40, 7.50, contains an XSLT vulnerability which allows a non-administrative authenticated attacker to craft a malicious XSL stylesheet file containing a script with OS-level commands, copy it into a location to be accessed by the system and then create a file which will trigger the XSLT engine to execute the script contained within the malicious XSL file. This can result in a full compromise of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-37531?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sap Netweaver Knowledge Management Xml Forms.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-37531?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-37531 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-37531 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-37531 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-37531 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-37531 is a critical command injection vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management XML Forms, published on 14 Sep 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-2021-37531 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: SAP NetWeaver Knowledge Management XML Forms. 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-2021-37531/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37531/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-37531
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37531
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-37531

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37531/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.