# CVE-2024-38374: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in org.cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java

> Attackers can exploit insecure XML parsing in CycloneDX Java library to read sensitive files or cause denial of service via XXE injection.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 28 Jun 2024
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** CVE-2024-38515, GHSA-683x-4444-jxh8

## What is CVE-2024-38374?

CVE-2024-38374 is a high-severity vulnerability in cyclonedx-core-java, published on 28 Jun 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The CycloneDX core module provides a model representation of the SBOM along with utilities to assist in creating, validating, and parsing SBOMs. Before deserializing CycloneDX Bill of Materials in XML format, _cyclonedx-core-java_ leverages XPath expressions to determine the schema version of the BOM. The `DocumentBuilderFactory` used to evaluate XPath expressions was not configured securely, making the library vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) injection. This vulnerability has been fixed in cyclonedx-core-java version 9.0.4.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-38374?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including org.cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `org.cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java` | Maven | From 2.1.0 | 9.0.4 |
| `org.cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java` | Maven | From 2.1.0 | 9.0.4 |

## How do I fix CVE-2024-38374?

Upgrade org.cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java to 9.0.4 or later.

## Is CVE-2024-38374 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-38374 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-38374 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-38374 is a high-severity vulnerability in cyclonedx-core-java, published on 28 Jun 2024. 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-2024-38374 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- org.cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java (Maven): affected from 2.1.0; fixed in 9.0.4
- org.cyclonedx:cyclonedx-core-java (Maven): affected from 2.1.0; fixed in 9.0.4

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-2024-38374/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38374/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-38374
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38374
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38374

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38374/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.