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CVE Record

CVE-2021-23418: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection

The package glances before 3.2.1 are vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) Injection via the use of Fault to parse untrusted XML data, which is known to be vulnerable to XML attacks.

MediumCVSS 6.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Glances versions before 3.2.1 can parse untrusted XML in a way that exposes them to XML External Entity attacks. Business impact is assessed as moderate: the published CVSS indicates possible limited confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, with user interaction required.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate-priority remediation item. It is not KEV-listed in the provided bundle, but affected monitoring software should be upgraded because the issue can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability when the vulnerable XML parsing path is reachable.

Technical view

CVE-2021-23418 affects the Python Glances package before 3.2.1. The issue is XXE injection tied to use of Fault to parse untrusted XML data. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.3 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction required.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in environments running Glances before 3.2.1 where the vulnerable XML parsing path can receive untrusted XML data. The source bundle does not provide CPEs, deployment roles, or precise reachable interfaces.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates remote reachability and low attack complexity, but also requires user interaction. No exploit steps should be inferred from these sources.

Researcher notes

No CWE or CPE data is supplied in the bundle. The strongest technical anchors are the CVE description, Snyk advisory, and upstream Glances commits/issues. Published date is 2021-07-29, with bundle update timestamp 2024-09-16.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Glances to version 3.2.1 or later.
  • Prioritize systems where Glances can process untrusted XML data.
  • Check Snyk and upstream Glances guidance for current remediation notes.
  • Reduce exposure of Glances services until updates are confirmed.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed Glances versions across hosts, containers, and dependency manifests.
  • Confirm vulnerable deployments are below version 3.2.1.
  • Identify whether any Glances workflow processes untrusted XML data.
  • Verify updated assets report Glances 3.2.1 or later.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2021-23418 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
6.3CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L2.83.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.3Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-23418Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/aGlancesunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.