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CVE Record

CVE-2021-23792: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection

The package com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata before 3.7.1 are vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) Injection due to an insecurely initialized XML parser for reading XMP Metadata. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability if they are able to supply a file (e.g. when an online profile picture is processed) with a malicious XMP segment. If the XMP metadata of the uploaded image is parsed, then the XXE vulnerability is triggered.

HighCVSS 7.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw affects Java applications using TwelveMonkeys imageio-metadata before 3.7.1 when they process untrusted images. A crafted image with malicious XMP metadata can trigger XML External Entity handling, potentially exposing data, altering processing behavior, or disrupting service. Risk is highest for public upload features such as profile pictures.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority dependency remediation for any externally reachable service that accepts image uploads. The main business concern is untrusted file processing in web-facing workflows, not broad platform compromise. Remediate through dependency upgrade and targeted validation.

Technical view

The vulnerable package initializes an XML parser insecurely while reading XMP metadata. If an application parses XMP from attacker-supplied image files, XXE behavior may be triggered. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.3 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely in Java services using com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata before 3.7.1 and parsing XMP metadata from user-uploaded images. Internet-facing upload workflows increase urgency. Systems that do not use this package or do not parse XMP metadata are less likely exposed.

Exploitation context

The source bundle describes exploitability through attacker-supplied files, such as profile pictures, when XMP metadata is parsed. It does not provide evidence of active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided data.

Researcher notes

Affected component is imageio-metadata before 3.7.1. Trigger conditions require attacker-controlled image content with XMP metadata and application parsing of that metadata. The bundle does not include CWE mapping, proof of active exploitation, or broader affected product claims.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata to 3.7.1 or later.
  • Prioritize public image upload and profile picture processing services.
  • Restrict or disable XMP metadata parsing for untrusted uploads until upgraded.
  • Check vendor project guidance and dependency advisories for additional remediation notes.
  • Rebuild and redeploy services after dependency updates.

Validation and detection

  • Search dependency manifests and lockfiles for com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata versions before 3.7.1.
  • Review SBOMs and runtime dependency reports for vulnerable transitive usage.
  • Identify routes or jobs that parse XMP metadata from uploaded images.
  • Confirm deployed artifacts contain imageio-metadata 3.7.1 or later.
  • Run regression tests for image upload and metadata processing paths.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
4

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-2021-23792 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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
3Source 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
7.3CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L3.93.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.3High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-23792Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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/acom.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadataunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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