Security Digest · Vulnerability record
CVE-2025-2905: WSO2 API Manager XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability
Due to the improper configuration of XML parser, user-supplied XML is parsed without applying sufficient restrictions, enabling XML External Entity (XXE) resolution in multiple WSO2 Products.
CVSS 9.1 Critical EPSS 1.3% · p70
Should you act?
Critical and remotely reachable
No known exploitation yet, but it is network-reachable without credentials. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- No confirmed exploitation. It is not in CISA’s KEV catalog and CISA’s SSVC assessment records no known exploitation. That can change quickly after a public write-up; re-check if you are affected.
- EPSS 1.3%, percentile 70: FIRST’s model estimates a 1.3% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 70% of all scored CVEs (moderate). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Only applies if your dependency tree includes
org.wso2.am:am-distribution-parent(Maven) < 2.1.0, fixed in 2.1.0. Check your lockfile, including transitive dependencies.
What it is
Due to the improper configuration of XML parser, user-supplied XML is parsed without applying sufficient restrictions, enabling XML External Entity (XXE) resolution in multiple WSO2 Products. A successful XXE attack could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to: Read sensitive files from the server’s filesystem. Perform denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which can render the affected service unavailable.
From the GitHub advisory
An XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability exists in the gateway component of WSO2 API Manager due to insufficient validation of XML input in crafted URL paths. User-supplied XML is parsed without appropriate restrictions, enabling external entity resolution.
This vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated remote attacker to read files from the server’s filesystem or perform denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
On systems running JDK 7 or early JDK 8, full file contents may be exposed.
On later versions of JDK 8 and newer, only the first line of a file may be read, due to improvements in XML parser behavior.
DoS attacks such as "Billion Laughs" payloads can cause service disruption.
Weakness type: CWE-611.
Product: org.wso2.am:am-distribution-parent (Maven) · Assigned by: WSO2 · Published: 2025-05-05
Affected and fixed versions
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable | First fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maven | org.wso2.am:am-distribution-parent | < 2.1.0 | 2.1.0 |
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| WSO2 | WSO2 API Manager | < 2.0.0, 2.1.0, 2.2.0, 2.5.0, 2.6.0, 3.0.0, 3.1.0, 4.0.0 < 4.0.0.311, 4.1.0 < 4.1.0.152, 4.2.0 < 4.2.0.122 |
| WSO2 | WSO2 Enterprise Integrator | 6.0.0, 6.1.0, 6.1.1, 6.2.0, 6.3.0, 6.4.0, 6.5.0, 6.6.0 |
| WSO2 | WSO2 Enterprise Service Bus | 4.9.0, 5.0.0 |
| WSO2 | WSO2 Micro integrator | 1.0.0, 1.1.0, 1.2.0 < 1.2.0.162, 4.0.0 < 4.0.0.132, 4.1.0 < 4.1.0.115, 4.2.0 < 4.2.0.112 |
| WSO2 | WSO2 Open Banking AM | 1.5.0 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSO2 | 3.1 | 9.1 Critical | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H |
| GitHub | 3.1 | 9.1 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: not listed (no confirmed in-the-wild exploitation known to CISA).
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 1.29% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 70.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by WSO2
- — GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-h94w-8qhg-3xmc published (critical)
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- security.docs.wso2.com security.docs.wso2.com
Vulnerability records
- GitHub Advisory GHSA-h94w-8qhg-3xmc github.com
- CVE.org record CVE-2025-2905 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2025-2905 nvd.nist.gov