CVE-2021-40690Network attack vector

Local XML file disclosure via XPath Transform

Published Sep 19, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Information disclosure in Apache Santuario before 2.1.7 and 2.2.0 through 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to read local XML files. KeyInfo creation from a KeyInfoReference fails to propagate secureValidation, permitting a RetrievalMethod to apply an otherwise restricted XPath Transform. A consuming application must process attacker-controlled XML containing those elements; the disclosed content is limited to locally accessible .xml files.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability7.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information disclosure in Apache Santuario before 2.1.7 and 2.2.0 through 2.2.2 allows remote attackers to read local XML files. KeyInfo creation from a KeyInfoReference fails to propagate secureValidation, permitting a RetrievalMethod to apply an otherwise restricted XPath Transform. A consuming application must process attacker-controlled XML containing those elements; the disclosed content is limited to locally accessible .xml files.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40690
Published
Sep 19, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Santuario
Classifications
CWE-200, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 19, 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=XML Security for Java <2.2.3,2.1.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Santuarioversion=XML Security for Java <2.2.3,2.1.7

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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.

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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-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
T1005Data from Local System

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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