CVE-2021-41770Network attack vector

Unauthenticated XML file disclosure via external entities

Published Oct 7, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

XML external entity injection in Ping Identity PingFederate before 10.3.1 allows remote attackers to disclose XML files over the network. The pre-parsing validation path fails to block external entity references before XML parsing, so the parser resolves attacker-controlled entities and exposes referenced file content. No authentication or user interaction is required, and Ping Identity has not disclosed the affected endpoint or parser implementation.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.99%
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 Ping Identity PingFederate before 10.3.1 allows remote attackers to disclose XML files over the network. The pre-parsing validation path fails to block external entity references before XML parsing, so the parser resolves attacker-controlled entities and exposes referenced file content. No authentication or user interaction is required, and Ping Identity has not disclosed the affected endpoint or parser implementation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41770
Published
Oct 7, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-611, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 7, 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?

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

7.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.0NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV: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.

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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
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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