CVE-2021-42537Network attack vector

Local file disclosure via external XML entities

Published Jul 27, 2022 · Updated Apr 17, 2025

XXE in VISAM VBASE Pro-RT/Server-RT 11.6.0.6 allows remote attackers to read local files through a crafted XML document. The XML processor resolves attacker-supplied external entity URIs outside its intended trust boundary and embeds the retrieved content in its output. Exploitation requires no privileges but does require user interaction, exposing readable local data and allowing unintended content to enter generated output.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.48%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in VISAM VBASE Pro-RT/Server-RT 11.6.0.6 allows remote attackers to read local files through a crafted XML document. The XML processor resolves attacker-supplied external entity URIs outside its intended trust boundary and embeds the retrieved content in its output. Exploitation requires no privileges but does require user interaction, exposing readable local data and allowing unintended content to enter generated output.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42537
Published
Jul 27, 2022
Updated
Apr 17, 2025
Vendor
VISAM GmbH
Product
VBASE
Classifications
CWE-611, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 27, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 17, 2025Record 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=version 11.6.0.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

VISAM GmbH · VBASEversion=version 11.6.0.6

Published CVSS scores

5.9CISA ICS-CERTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
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-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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