CVE-2023-27476Network attack vector

Arbitrary file read via enabled XML entity resolution

Published Mar 7, 2023 · Updated Feb 25, 2025

XML external entity injection in geopython OWSLib before 0.28.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary local files via crafted XML. The shared owslib.etree parser leaves lxml entity resolution enabled across roughly 115 XML-parsing call sites, causing external entity URIs to resolve to host files. Exploitation requires an application using OWSLib to parse attacker-controlled XML; the disclosed impact is file disclosure, with no established file modification.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.98%
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 geopython OWSLib before 0.28.1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary local files via crafted XML. The shared owslib.etree parser leaves lxml entity resolution enabled across roughly 115 XML-parsing call sites, causing external entity URIs to resolve to host files. Exploitation requires an application using OWSLib to parse attacker-controlled XML; the disclosed impact is file disclosure, with no established file modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-27476
Published
Mar 7, 2023
Updated
Feb 25, 2025
Vendor
geopython
Product
OWSLib
Classifications
CWE-611, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 7, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 25, 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=< 0.28.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

geopython · OWSLibversion=< 0.28.1

Published CVSS scores

8.2GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L
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.

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 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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