CVE-2025-54988Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Sensitive data disclosure via XFA external entities

Published Aug 20, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

XXE in Apache Tika PDF Parser Module 1.13 through 3.2.1 allows remote attackers to read sensitive data via a crafted XFA PDF. During XFA extraction, PDFParser resolves attacker-controlled external entity URIs, enabling local file reads and outbound requests. Exploitation requires an application using the affected parser to process the supplied PDF, and exposure is bounded by files and resources accessible to that application.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability37.71%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in Apache Tika PDF Parser Module 1.13 through 3.2.1 allows remote attackers to read sensitive data via a crafted XFA PDF. During XFA extraction, PDFParser resolves attacker-controlled external entity URIs, enabling local file reads and outbound requests. Exploitation requires an application using the affected parser to process the supplied PDF, and exposure is bounded by files and resources accessible to that application.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-54988
Published
Aug 20, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
The Apache Software Foundation
Product
Apache Tika PDF Parser Module
Classifications
CWE-611, CAPEC-221
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 20, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 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=1.13 <=3.2.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Apache Software Foundation · Apache Tika PDF Parser Moduleversion=1.13 <=3.2.1

Published CVSS scores

9.3GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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
CAPEC-221Data Serialization External Entities Blowup

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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