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Vulnerability record · CVE-2016-6798 · published 19 July 2017

CVE-2016-6798: Apache sling xml external entity (xxe) vulnerability

Apache · Sling

In the XSS Protection API module before 1.0.12 in Apache Sling, the method XSS.getValidXML() uses an insecure SAX parser to validate the input string, which allows for XXE attacks in all scripts which use this method to validate user input, potentially allowing an attacker to read sensitive data on the filesystem, perform same-site-request-forgery (SSRF), port-scanning behind the firewall or DoS the application.

9.8 CVSS 3.0 Critical EPSS 3.7% · top 10.7% CWE-611 · XML external entity (XXE)
9.8CVSS 3.0 base score, v2 7.5
3.7%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

In the XSS Protection API module before 1.0.12 in Apache Sling, the method XSS.getValidXML() uses an insecure SAX parser to validate the input string, which allows for XXE attacks in all scripts which use this method to validate user input, potentially allowing an attacker to read sensitive data on the filesystem, perform same-site-request-forgery (SSRF), port-scanning behind the firewall or DoS the application.

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99873 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b72c3a511592ec70729b3ec2d29302b6ce87bbeab62d4745617a6bd0%40%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99873 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b72c3a511592ec70729b3ec2d29302b6ce87bbeab62d4745617a6bd0%40%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2016-6798), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.