CVE-2023-23926Network attack vector

Authenticated file disclosure via external XML entities

Published Feb 16, 2023 · Updated Mar 10, 2025

XXE in Neo4j APOC before 4.4.0.14 and 5.0.0 through 5.4.x allows remote authenticated users to read local files. XmlGraphMLReader creates an XMLInputFactory without disabling DTDs or external entities, so apoc.import.graphml resolves attacker-supplied entity URIs. Low-privileged database access to call the procedure is required; crafted XML can disclose local files or crash the server.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.89%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in Neo4j APOC before 4.4.0.14 and 5.0.0 through 5.4.x allows remote authenticated users to read local files. XmlGraphMLReader creates an XMLInputFactory without disabling DTDs or external entities, so apoc.import.graphml resolves attacker-supplied entity URIs. Low-privileged database access to call the procedure is required; crafted XML can disclose local files or crash the server.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-23926
Published
Feb 16, 2023
Updated
Mar 10, 2025
Vendor
Neo4j
Product
APOC
Classifications
CWE-611, T1499.004, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 10, 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=< 4.4.0.14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Neo4j · APOCversion=< 4.4.0.14

Published CVSS scores

5.9GitHub CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:H

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation
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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