CVE-2021-22498Network attack vector

Authenticated data disclosure and service interruption via XXE

Published Jan 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

XML external entity injection in Micro Focus Application Lifecycle Management allows remote authenticated users to read data or interrupt service. Affected releases are 12.5x, 12.60 Patch 5 and earlier, 15.0.1 Patch 2 and earlier, and 15.5; the vendor has not published the XML parser or request locus that resolves external entities. Low-privileged network access is required, and the published impact is limited to data disclosure and service interruption, with no integrity impact.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XML external entity injection in Micro Focus Application Lifecycle Management allows remote authenticated users to read data or interrupt service. Affected releases are 12.5x, 12.60 Patch 5 and earlier, 15.0.1 Patch 2 and earlier, and 15.5; the vendor has not published the XML parser or request locus that resolves external entities. Low-privileged network access is required, and the published impact is limited to data disclosure and service interruption, with no integrity impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22498
Published
Jan 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Micro Focus
Product
Application Lifecycle Management
Classifications
CWE-611
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 19, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Affected versions are: 12.x, 12.60 Patch 5 and earlier, 15.0.1 Patch 2 and earlier and 15.5.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Micro Focus · Application Lifecycle Managementversion=Affected versions are: 12.x, 12.60 Patch 5 and earlier, 15.0.1 Patch 2 and earlier and 15.5.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:P
8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
5.5Micro FocusAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:P
6.4Micro FocusCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:L

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
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.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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