Description
Alkacon OpenCms before 16 allows XXE when the <!DOCTYPE> refers to an external host.
Published: 2026-05-08
Score: 7.5 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

Alkacon OpenCms versions before 16 contain a flaw that processes XML documents containing a DOCTYPE declaration that references an external host. When such XML is submitted to the application, the server resolves the external entity, which allows an attacker to read arbitrary files on the server or retrieve data from arbitrary URLs. This weakness is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability classified as CWE-611, with primary impact the disclosure of confidential information and unauthorized access to server files.

Affected Systems

All releases of Alkacon OpenCms earlier than version 16 are susceptible because the default configuration does not disable external entity resolution. Users should verify their installed version and confirm whether external entity processing is enabled. No further version granularity is provided in the CVE entry.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.5 signals a high severity for this flaw, and the EPSS score of < 1% indicates limited real‑world activity to date. If an application endpoint accepts XML input from users, an attacker can supply malicious XML that resolves external entities. The result is uncontrolled file or directory disclosure, potentially leaking sensitive configuration data or other confidential documents. The flaw is not currently listed in CISA’s KEV catalog, but its high severity and remote reach mean that a prompt evaluation and patching is advised.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on May 11, 2026 at 21:48 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade to OpenCms 16 or later where external entity resolution is disabled by default
  • If an upgrade cannot be made immediately, configure the XML parser to disallow external entities and DOCTYPE declarations
  • As a short‑term defense, block outbound connections from the OpenCms server to external hosts to thwart entity fetching

Generated by OpenCVE AI on May 11, 2026 at 21:48 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-pj6p-9p8x-5mfc Alkacon OpenCms is vulnerable to XXE when the <!DOCTYPE> refers to an external host
History

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title XXE Vulnerability in Alkacon OpenCms Before Version 16 via External DOCTYPE

Mon, 11 May 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 08 May 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Alkacon
Alkacon opencms
Vendors & Products Alkacon
Alkacon opencms

Fri, 08 May 2026 07:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Title XXE Vulnerability in Alkacon OpenCms Before Version 16 via External DOCTYPE
Weaknesses CWE-611

Fri, 08 May 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description Alkacon OpenCms before 16 allows XXE when the <!DOCTYPE> refers to an external host.
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: mitre

Published:

Updated: 2026-05-11T18:47:44.516Z

Reserved: 2023-09-08T00:00:00.000Z

Link: CVE-2023-42346

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-05-11T18:47:32.586Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-05-08T05:16:09.850

Modified: 2026-05-11T20:20:58.467

Link: CVE-2023-42346

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-05-11T22:00:07Z

Weaknesses