CVE-2021-27635Network attack vector

File disclosure and crashes via external entities

Published Jun 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

XML external entity injection in SAP NetWeaver AS for Java 7.20 through 7.50 allows remote authenticated users to read server files. Communication Profiles in the ESP framework accepts crafted XML and resolves external entities without validating or restricting their referenced resources. Administrator access and network reachability are required; exploitation can expose any filesystem file or crash server processes, but cannot modify data.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability1.59%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

XML external entity injection in SAP NetWeaver AS for Java 7.20 through 7.50 allows remote authenticated users to read server files. Communication Profiles in the ESP framework accepts crafted XML and resolves external entities without validating or restricting their referenced resources. Administrator access and network reachability are required; exploitation can expose any filesystem file or crash server processes, but cannot modify data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-27635
Published
Jun 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
SAP SE
Product
SAP NetWeaver AS for Java
Classifications
CWE-611, T1499.004, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=< 7.20
  2. Affected versionversion=< 7.30
  3. Affected versionversion=< 7.31
  4. Affected versionversion=< 7.40
  5. Affected versionversion=< 7.50

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

SAP SE · SAP NetWeaver AS for Javaversion=< 7.20; version=< 7.30; version=< 7.31; version=< 7.40; version=< 7.50

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:N/A:P
9.0SAP SECVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:H
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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.

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation
T1005Data from Local System

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo