# CVE-2022-31678: XML external entity in VMware Cloud Foundation (NSX-V)

> An attacker can exploit an XML External Entity vulnerability in VMware Cloud Foundation to cause denial of service or disclose sensitive information.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 28 Oct 2022
- **Updated:** 8 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g3gp-3rff-x6qf

## What is CVE-2022-31678?

CVE-2022-31678 is a critical vulnerability in Vmware Cloud Foundation, published on 28 Oct 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

VMware Cloud Foundation (NSX-V) contains an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability. On VCF 3.x instances with NSX-V deployed, this may allow a user to exploit this issue leading to a denial-of-service condition or unintended information disclosure.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-31678?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Vmware Cloud Foundation, Vmware Nsx Data Center.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-31678?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-31678 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-31678 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-31678 exists.

Public exploit code:

- VMWare Cloud Foundation NSX-V - XML External Entity (XXE) (nuclei): http/cves/2022/CVE-2022-31678.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Vmware Cloud Foundation

- [CVE-2024-38812](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38812/): VMware vCenter Server Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-37079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37079/): Broadcom VMware vCenter Server Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-22954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-22954/): VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager Server-Side Template Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22005](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22005/): VMware vCenter Server File Upload (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-21985](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21985/): VMware vCenter Server Improper Input Validation (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-31678 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-31678 is a critical vulnerability in Vmware Cloud Foundation, published on 28 Oct 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-31678 exists.

Affected product: Vmware Cloud Foundation. 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-2022-31678/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-31678/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-31678
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-31678
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-31678

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-31678/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.