Kitodo Kitodo.Production up to 3.9.1 XML Parsing Helpers XMLUtils.java xml external entity reference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Kitodo Kitodo.Production up to 3.9.1. Affected by this vulnerability is the function parseXMLString/getNumberOfEADElements/checkIfXmlIsWellFormed of the file org/kitodo/production/helper/XMLUtils.java of the component XML Parsing Helpers. Executing a manipulation can lead to xml external entity reference. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-54668. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Kitodo Kitodo.Production up to 3.9.1. It has been declared as critical. This vulnerability affects the function parseXMLString/getNumberOfEADElements/checkIfXmlIsWellFormed of the file org/kitodo/production/helper/XMLUtils.java of the component XML Parsing Helpers. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a xml external entity reference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-611. The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Kitodo.Production is a workflow management tool for mass digitization and is part of the Kitodo Digital Library Suite. Prior to version 3.9.2, org.kitodo.production.helper.XMLUtils exposes several XML parsing helpers that construct a JAXP parser with the default, non-secure configuration. The methods parseXMLString(String), getNumberOfEADElements(String, String) and checkIfXmlIsWellFormed(String) build a DocumentBuilderFactory / XMLInputFactory / SAXParserFactory via newInstance() and parse the attacker-supplied string without disabling DOCTYPE declarations or external entity resolution. These helpers sit directly on the EAD-import path: an authenticated user who uploads an EAD/XML file through the "Create process" file-upload dialog has the uploaded bytes parsed by these methods. A crafted document with an external entity therefore yields XML External Entity (XXE) injection: local file disclosure and outbound SSRF requests from the server. This issue has been patched in version 3.9.2.

The advisory is available at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-54668 since 06/16/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 3.9.2 eliminates this vulnerability.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Vendor

• Kitodo

Name

• Kitodo.Production

Version

• 3.9.0
• 3.9.1

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion