# CVE-2023-21862: XML external entity in Web Services Manager

> An unauthenticated attacker can exploit an XML External Entity vulnerability to read or modify critical data in Oracle Web Services Manager.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9v45-q2j7-r89w

## What is CVE-2023-21862?

CVE-2023-21862 is a high-severity vulnerability in Oracle Corporation Web Services Manager, published on 17 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Vulnerability in the Oracle Web Services Manager product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: XML Security component).   The supported version that is affected is 12.2.1.4.0. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via HTTP to compromise Oracle Web Services Manager.  Successful attacks require human interaction from a person other than the attacker. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in  unauthorized creation, deletion or modification access to critical data or all Oracle Web Services Manager accessible data as well as  unauthorized access to critical data or complete access to all Oracle Web Services Manager accessible data. CVSS 3.1 Base Score 8.1 (Confidentiality and Integrity impacts).  CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-21862?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Oracle Web Services Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-21862?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-21862 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-21862 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21862 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Oracle Corporation Web Services Manager

- [CVE-2026-61001](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-61001/): Missing authorization in Oracle Web Services Manager (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2026-60737](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-60737/): Missing authorization in Oracle Web Services Manager (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-70924](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-70924/): Auth bypass in Oracle Web Services Manager (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2022-21497](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21497/): Missing authorization in Web Services Manager (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-21862 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-21862 is a high-severity vulnerability in Oracle Corporation Web Services Manager, published on 17 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-21862 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Oracle Corporation Web Services 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-2023-21862/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21862/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-21862
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-21862
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-21862

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-21862/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.