CVE-2022-50899Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Server file disclosure via PDF parser XXE

Published Jan 13, 2026 · Updated Jan 13, 2026

XXE in GeoNetwork opensource 3.10 through 4.2.0 allows remote attackers to read server files through PDF creation requests. The PDF creation handler fetches XML from the layer baseURL and parses attacker-supplied external entity declarations without disabling entity resolution. The request is network-reachable and needs no user interaction, but VulnCheck's published v4 and v3.1 vectors conflict on whether authentication is required.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in GeoNetwork opensource 3.10 through 4.2.0 allows remote attackers to read server files through PDF creation requests. The PDF creation handler fetches XML from the layer baseURL and parses attacker-supplied external entity declarations without disabling entity resolution. The request is network-reachable and needs no user interaction, but VulnCheck's published v4 and v3.1 vectors conflict on whether authentication is required.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-50899
Published
Jan 13, 2026
Updated
Jan 13, 2026
Vendor
GeoNetwork
Product
GeoNetwork opensource
Classifications
CWE-611, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 13, 2026Record 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=3.10 <=4.2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GeoNetwork · GeoNetwork opensourceversion=3.10 <=4.2.0

Published CVSS scores

8.7VulnCheckCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.5VulnCheckCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

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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