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CVE Record

CVE-2021-37714: Crafted input may cause the jsoup HTML and XML parser to get stuck, timeout, or throw unchecked exceptions

jsoup is a Java library for working with HTML. Those using jsoup versions prior to 1.14.2 to parse untrusted HTML or XML may be vulnerable to DOS attacks. If the parser is run on user supplied input, an attacker may supply content that causes the parser to get stuck (loop indefinitely until cancelled), to complete more slowly than usual, or to throw an unexpected exception. This effect may support a denial of service attack. The issue is patched in version 1.14.2. There are a few available workarounds. Users may rate limit input parsing, limit the size of inputs based on system resources, and/or implement thread watchdogs to cap and timeout parse runtimes.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-37714 affects jsoup before 1.14.2. A malicious HTML or XML input can make parsing hang, slow down, or throw unchecked exceptions, creating a denial-of-service risk where applications parse untrusted content.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority for internet-facing or high-volume services that parse untrusted markup. The fix is a dependency upgrade, but exposure may hide in transitive dependencies and vendor-bundled components.

Technical view

The issue is an availability flaw in jsoup parsing of untrusted HTML/XML, mapped to CWE-248 and CWE-835. CVSS 3.1 is 7.5: network reachable, low complexity, no privileges or user interaction, with high availability impact only. Version 1.14.2 patches it.

Likely exposure

Most exposed systems are Java applications or products that directly or transitively include jsoup below 1.14.2 and parse user-supplied HTML or XML, such as uploaded content, emails, feeds, comments, or scraped web pages.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation would be practical where an attacker can submit crafted markup to a service that parses it synchronously or without runtime limits.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on reachability, not just dependency presence. A vulnerable jsoup version matters most when attacker-controlled markup reaches the parser without size, rate, or execution-time controls. Evidence here supports patch availability but not active exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade jsoup to version 1.14.2 or later.
  • Identify bundled or transitive jsoup dependencies in Java applications.
  • Rate limit endpoints that parse untrusted HTML or XML.
  • Limit accepted input size based on service capacity.
  • Add watchdogs or timeouts around parsing work.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm dependency manifests resolve jsoup 1.14.2 or later.
  • Review SBOMs and packaged artifacts for older jsoup versions.
  • Find routes or jobs that parse user-controlled HTML or XML.
  • Test parser timeout and exception handling with safe malformed inputs.
  • Check monitoring for parser-related hangs, timeouts, or availability drops.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

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

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-248: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-835: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-37714 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
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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
15Source 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
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-37714Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

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
jhyjsoup< 1.14.2Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-248CWE-835

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

CWE-248 · source CWE mapping

Uncaught Exception

Uncaught Exception represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs
CWE-835 · source CWE mapping

Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')

Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs