CVE-2025-68463Public exploitNetwork attack vector

SSRF via unchecked external XML references

Published Dec 18, 2025 · Updated Dec 18, 2025

XXE in Bio.Entrez.Parser in Biopython 1.86 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to send HTTP requests via crafted XML. DataHandler passes uncached external DTD and XSD URLs to urllib.request.urlopen without restricting the destination. Reachability requires a consuming application to parse attacker-controlled XML; resulting requests can reach internal services or exhaust resources.

CVSS severity4.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

XXE in Bio.Entrez.Parser in Biopython 1.86 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to send HTTP requests via crafted XML. DataHandler passes uncached external DTD and XSD URLs to urllib.request.urlopen without restricting the destination. Reachability requires a consuming application to parse attacker-controlled XML; resulting requests can reach internal services or exhaust resources.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-68463
Published
Dec 18, 2025
Updated
Dec 18, 2025
Vendor
Biopython
Product
Biopython
Classifications
CWE-611
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 18, 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 <=186

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Biopython · Biopythonversion=0 <=186

Published CVSS scores

4.9MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:L

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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-611Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference

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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