CVE-2023-42445Network attack vector

Local file exfiltration via external entity resolution

Published Oct 6, 2023 · Updated Jun 16, 2025

XXE in Gradle Build Tool before 7.6.3 and before 8.4 allows remote attackers to exfiltrate local text files via Ivy XML descriptors. Affected XML parsing paths leave external-entity resolution enabled, so a crafted descriptor reads a local file and sends its contents to an attacker-controlled server. Remote exploitation requires control of an Ivy repository used by the build or permission to publish a malicious descriptor for a dependency the build consumes.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.67%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in Gradle Build Tool before 7.6.3 and before 8.4 allows remote attackers to exfiltrate local text files via Ivy XML descriptors. Affected XML parsing paths leave external-entity resolution enabled, so a crafted descriptor reads a local file and sends its contents to an attacker-controlled server. Remote exploitation requires control of an Ivy repository used by the build or permission to publish a malicious descriptor for a dependency the build consumes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42445
Published
Oct 6, 2023
Updated
Jun 16, 2025
Vendor
Gradle, Inc.
Product
Gradle Build Tool
Classifications
CWE-611, T1195.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 16, 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=< 7.6.3
  2. Affected versionversion=< 8.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Gradle, Inc. · Gradle Build Toolversion=< 7.6.3; version=< 8.4

Published CVSS scores

6.8GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
5.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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
T1195.002Compromise Software Supply Chain

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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