# CVE-2021-38584: XML external entity in n/a

> An attacker can exploit an XML External Entity vulnerability in the cPanel WHM Locale Upload feature to read sensitive files or execute code.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 Aug 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-69cw-q85q-xvfh

## What is CVE-2021-38584?

CVE-2021-38584 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cpanel Cpanel, published on 11 Aug 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The WHM Locale Upload feature in cPanel before 98.0.1 allows XXE attacks (SEC-585).

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38584?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Cpanel Cpanel.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38584?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38584 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-38584 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38584 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Cpanel Cpanel

- [CVE-2026-41940](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-41940/): WebPros cPanel & WHM and WP2 (WordPress Squared) Missing Authentication for Critical Function (critical 9.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2003-1425](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1425/): guestbook.cgi in cPanel 5.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via the template parameter. (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1769](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1769/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1770](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1770/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-26098](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-26098/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38584 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38584 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cpanel Cpanel, published on 11 Aug 2021. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38584 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Cpanel Cpanel. 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-2021-38584/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38584/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38584
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38584
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38584

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38584/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.