# CVE-2023-45727: North Grid Proself Improper Restriction of XML External Entity (XXE) Reference

> Remote unauthenticated attackers can read arbitrary files containing account information via XML External Entity attacks in Proself server editions.

- **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:** Yes, since 3 Dec 2024 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m745-jcvj-8cx6

## What is CVE-2023-45727?

CVE-2023-45727 is a high-severity vulnerability in North Grid Corporation Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition, published on 18 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition Ver5.62 and earlier, Proself Gateway Edition Ver1.65 and earlier, and Proself Mail Sanitize Edition Ver1.08 and earlier allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks. By processing a specially crafted request containing malformed XML data, arbitrary files on the server containing account information may be read by the attacker.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-45727?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Northgrid Proself.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-45727?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-45727 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 24 Dec 2024.

## Is CVE-2023-45727 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-45727 in the wild since at least 3 Dec 2024.

## Other vulnerabilities in North Grid Corporation Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition

- [CVE-2023-39415](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39415/): Auth bypass in Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-39416](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39416/): Command injection in Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition (high 7.2)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-45727 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-45727 is a high-severity vulnerability in North Grid Corporation Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition, published on 18 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-45727 in the wild since at least 3 Dec 2024.

Affected product: North Grid Corporation Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition. 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-2023-45727/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45727/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-45727
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45727
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-45727

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45727/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.