CVE-2021-40500Network attack vector

Arbitrary file disclosure via unvalidated XML entities

Published Oct 12, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

XXE in Crystal Reports in SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform 4.2 and 4.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary server files. Report-manipulation endpoints accept XML entities without sufficient validation and resolve attacker-supplied external references against server resources. The endpoints are normally network-exposed and require no authentication; exploitation can disclose internal files or directories, induce server-side requests, or exhaust service resources.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in Crystal Reports in SAP BusinessObjects BI Platform 4.2 and 4.3 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary server files. Report-manipulation endpoints accept XML entities without sufficient validation and resolve attacker-supplied external references against server resources. The endpoints are normally network-exposed and require no authentication; exploitation can disclose internal files or directories, induce server-side requests, or exhaust service resources.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40500
Published
Oct 12, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
SAP SE
Product
SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform
Classifications
CWE-611, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 12, 2021CVE 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=< 420
  2. Affected versionversion=< 430

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SAP SE · SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platformversion=< 420; version=< 430

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
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

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Your stack

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