CVE-2020-10683Network attack vector

Data disclosure via default external entity resolution

Published May 1, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

XXE in dom4j before 2.0.3 and 2.1.0 through 2.1.2 allows attackers to read local data through crafted XML external entities. SAXReader delegates to the system XMLReader with its default features, leaving external DTD loading and external entity resolution enabled. Exploitation requires a consuming application to parse attacker-controlled XML without overriding those defaults, permitting local-file disclosure or server-side requests.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability7.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in dom4j before 2.0.3 and 2.1.0 through 2.1.2 allows attackers to read local data through crafted XML external entities. SAXReader delegates to the system XMLReader with its default features, leaving external DTD loading and external entity resolution enabled. Exploitation requires a consuming application to parse attacker-controlled XML without overriding those defaults, permitting local-file disclosure or server-side requests.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-10683
Published
May 1, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-611
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 1, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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