CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2019-16188 — HCL AppScan Source before 9.03.13 is susceptible to XML External Entity (XXE) attacks in multiple locations

High CVSS 7.1

HCL AppScan Source before 9.03.13 is susceptible to XML External Entity (XXE) attacks in multiple locations. In particular, an attacker can send a specially crafted .ozasmt file to a targeted victim and ask the victim to open it. When the victim imports the .ozasmt file in AppScan Source, the content of any file in the local file system (to which the victim as read access) can be exfiltrated to a remote listener under the attacker's control. The product does not disable external XML Entity Processing, which can lead to information disclosure and denial of services attacks.

Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Published
2019-09-25
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application
Weaknesses
CWE-611

Affected products

  • hcltech / appscan_source

Matched remediation archetype

XML external entity and unsafe XML processing

This catalog composition supplies bounded fallback guidance. Explicitly reviewed curated workflows load with the complete record below.

Check exposure

  • Inventory XML parsers used by APIs, file imports, office or image formats, identity protocols, feeds, and background jobs.
  • Determine whether document type declarations, external entities, XInclude, schemas, or network resolvers are enabled.
  • Map parser filesystem and network access and the sensitivity of documents it processes.

Remediate safely

  • Configure each parser to reject document type declarations and disable external entity, XInclude, and network resolution features.
  • Prefer a data format or hardened parser that does not support external resolution, and apply input size and depth limits.
  • Update affected XML libraries and centralize secure parser construction so callers cannot silently override it.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

The detailed catalog view below loads this exact record, its source evidence, and the full seven-phase agentic change plan.