# CVE-2021-40356: XML external entity in Teamcenter V12.4

> An attacker can exploit an XML External Entity injection flaw in Siemens Teamcenter to view files on the application server filesystem.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7xwv-xhf6-x5cr

## What is CVE-2021-40356?

CVE-2021-40356 is a high-severity vulnerability in Siemens Teamcenter Visualization, published on 14 Sep 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been identified in Teamcenter V12.4 (All versions < V12.4.0.8), Teamcenter V13.0 (All versions < V13.0.0.7), Teamcenter V13.1 (All versions < V13.1.0.5), Teamcenter V13.2 (All versions < 13.2.0.2). The application contains a XML External Entity Injection (XXE) vulnerability. This could allow an attacker to view files on the application server filesystem.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-40356?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Siemens Teamcenter Visualization.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-40356?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-40356 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-40356 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-40356 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Siemens Teamcenter Visualization

- [CVE-2021-40355](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40355/): Missing authorization in Teamcenter V12.4 (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-32454](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-32454/): Memory corruption in Teamcenter Visualization V14.3 (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2025-23396](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-23396/): Memory corruption in Teamcenter Visualization V14.3 (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2025-23397](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-23397/): Memory corruption in Teamcenter Visualization V14.3 (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2025-23398](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-23398/): Memory corruption in Teamcenter Visualization V14.3 (high 7.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-40356 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-40356 is a high-severity vulnerability in Siemens Teamcenter Visualization, published on 14 Sep 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-2021-40356 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Siemens Teamcenter Visualization. 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-2021-40356/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40356/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-40356
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40356
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-40356

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40356/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.