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CVE Record

CVE-2021-23926: XMLBeans XML Entity Expansion

The XML parsers used by XMLBeans up to version 2.6.0 did not set the properties needed to protect the user from malicious XML input. Vulnerabilities include possibilities for XML Entity Expansion attacks. Affects XMLBeans up to and including v2.6.0.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

Apache XMLBeans up to 2.6.0 used XML parser settings that did not adequately protect applications from malicious XML input. For businesses, the main concern is systems that accept or process external XML, where crafted data could disrupt service through entity expansion behavior.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted dependency cleanup priority, highest for internet-facing or partner-facing XML processing systems. No active exploitation is shown in the supplied sources, but untrusted XML handling can create service-impacting risk.

Technical view

CVE-2021-23926 affects Apache XMLBeans up to and including 2.6.0. The CVE states XML parsers did not set protective properties, allowing XML Entity Expansion attacks. The provided sources do not include CVSS, CWE, exploit details, or a single upstream remediation statement.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in Java applications or vendor products that directly or transitively use Apache XMLBeans 2.6.0 or older to parse untrusted XML. Bundled copies may exist in third-party products, so software composition and vendor advisory checks matter.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires an affected XMLBeans parsing path receiving malicious XML input. Public sources provided describe the vulnerability class but do not provide confirmed real-world abuse.

Researcher notes

Evidence is limited to the CVE description and linked advisories. The affected boundary is XMLBeans up to 2.6.0, but downstream product exposure depends on bundled versions and XML parsing reachability. Avoid assuming exploitability without confirming an input path.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory direct and transitive Apache XMLBeans dependencies.
  • Prioritize systems parsing XML from users, partners, or external services.
  • Apply Apache, distribution, or vendor security updates where available.
  • Check Debian, Oracle, and NetApp advisories for bundled product impact.
  • If updates are unavailable, seek vendor guidance before accepting untrusted XML.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether XMLBeans version is 2.6.0 or older.
  • Review SBOMs and dependency manifests for bundled XMLBeans.
  • Map application paths that parse externally supplied XML.
  • Check vendor advisories for affected packaged products.
  • Verify remediation through dependency or product version evidence.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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

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CVE-2021-23926 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
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.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Apache Software FoundationApache XMLBeansApache XMLBeansListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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