# CVE-2023-40310: Missing XML Validation vulnerability in SAP PowerDesigner Client BPMN2 import

> An attacker can cause denial of service in SAP PowerDesigner Client by importing a malicious BPMN2 XML file that triggers external entity access.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **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:** 10 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 18 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4wqh-m4m9-qjm8

## What is CVE-2023-40310?

CVE-2023-40310 is a medium-severity vulnerability in SAP_SE SAP PowerDesigner Client, published on 10 Oct 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

SAP PowerDesigner Client - version 16.7, does not sufficiently validate BPMN2 XML document imported from an untrusted source. As a result, URLs of external entities in BPMN2 file, although not used, would be accessed during import. A successful attack could impact availability of SAP PowerDesigner Client.

Weakness: CWE-112 (Missing XML Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-40310?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sap Powerdesigner.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-40310?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-40310 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-40310 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40310 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in SAP_SE SAP PowerDesigner Client

- [CVE-2023-37483](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37483/): Improper Access Control Vulnerabilities in SAP PowerDesigner (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-36923](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36923/): Code Injection vulnerability in SAP PowerDesigner (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-40621](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40621/): Code Injection vulnerability in SAP PowerDesigner Client (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2023-37484](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37484/): Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities in SAP PowerDesigner (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-40310 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-40310 is a medium-severity vulnerability in SAP_SE SAP PowerDesigner Client, published on 10 Oct 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-2023-40310 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: SAP_SE SAP PowerDesigner Client. 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-2023-40310/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40310/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40310
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40310
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-40310

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40310/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.