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CVE-2016-6798

Status: ModifiedCritical (9.8)—

In the XSS Protection API module before 1.0.12 in Apache Sling, the method XSS.getValidXML() uses an insecure SAX parser to validate the input string, which allows for XXE attacks in all scripts which use this method to validate user input, potentially allowing an attacker to read sensitive data on the filesystem, perform same-site-request-forgery (SSRF), port-scanning behind the firewall or DoS the application.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (1)

Apache — Sling

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2016-6798",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 7.5,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "accessComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 6.4,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 10,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": false
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV30": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.0",
          "baseScore": 9.8,
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 3.9
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "security@apache.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Apache Software Foundation",
          "product": "Apache Sling",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "prior to 1.0.12"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2017-07-19T15:29:00.213",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99873",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "security@apache.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b72c3a511592ec70729b3ec2d29302b6ce87bbeab62d4745617a6bd0%40%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%3E",
      "source": "security@apache.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99873",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/b72c3a511592ec70729b3ec2d29302b6ce87bbeab62d4745617a6bd0%40%3Cdev.sling.apache.org%3E",
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-611"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "In the XSS Protection API module before 1.0.12 in Apache Sling, the method XSS.getValidXML() uses an insecure SAX parser to validate the input string, which allows for XXE attacks in all scripts which use this method to validate user input, potentially allowing an attacker to read sensitive data on the filesystem, perform same-site-request-forgery (SSRF), port-scanning behind the firewall or DoS the application."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "En el módulo de la API de protección XSS  anterior a  la versión 1.0.12 en Apache Sling, el método XSS.getValidXML() utiliza un analizador SAX no seguro para comprobar la cadena de entrada, lo que permite ataques de tipo XXE en todos los scripts que utilizan este método para comprobar la entrada del usuario, potencialmente permitiendo a un atacante leer datos confidenciales en el sistema de archivos, realizar ataques de tipo same-site-request-forgery (SSRF), escanear puertos detrás del firewall o realizar una DoS de la aplicación."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T00:51:47.367",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:apache:sling:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "C2A62F4D-F969-446E-8A2B-BD817101880F",
              "versionEndIncluding": "1.0.10"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "security@apache.org"
}