CVE-2017-5661
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache FOP
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
CVE-2017-5661- CVSS 3.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 7.9 High
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:C/I:N/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
CVE-2017-5661- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-2596 No score
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
EUVD-2022-2596- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-5hg8-r9vq-gjqp
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache FOP
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
GHSA-5hg8-r9vq-gjqp- CVSS 3.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
CVE-2017-5661- CVSS 3.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2017-5661
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2017-5661- CVSS 3.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 4 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-5hg8-r9vq-gjqp
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Apache FOP
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
GHSA-5hg8-r9vq-gjqp- CVSS 3.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2017-5661
In Apache FOP before 2.2, files lying on the filesystem of the server which uses FOP can be revealed to arbitrary users who send maliciously formed SVG files. The file types that can be shown depend on the user context in which the exploitable application is running. If the user is root a full compromise of the server - including confidential or sensitive files - would be possible. XXE can also be used to attack the availability of the server via denial of service as the references within a xml document can trivially trigger an amplification attack.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2017-5661- CVSS 3.0
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVCLSA-2026-1779929352 No score
TuxCare security update for org.apache.xmlgraphics:fop (1 CVE)
TuxCare rebuilt org.apache.xmlgraphics:fop to address 1 CVE. Fixed in 1.0-tuxcare.4.
- Record
CLSA-2026-1779929352- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3281-1 No score
fop vulnerability
Pierre Ernst discovered that Apache Fop incorrectly handled XML external entities. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to obtain sensitive files from the filesystem, or cause a denial of service.
- Record
USN-3281-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.xmlgraphics:fopMaven |
before 2.2 | 2.2 |
org.apache.xmlgraphics:fopTuxCare:Maven |
1.0 up to 1.0-tuxcare.4, plus listed versions 1.0-tuxcare.11.0-tuxcare.21.0-tuxcare.3 |
1.0-tuxcare.4 |
fopDebian:12 |
before 1:2.1-6 | 1:2.1-6 |
fopDebian:13 |
before 1:2.1-6 | 1:2.1-6 |
fopDebian:14 |
before 1:2.1-6 | 1:2.1-6 |
fopDebian:7 |
before 1:1.0.dfsg2-6+deb7u1, plus listed versions 1:1.0.dfsg2-6 |
1:1.0.dfsg2-6+deb7u1 |
fopDebian:8 |
before 1:1.1.dfsg2-1+deb8u1, plus listed versions 1:1.1.dfsg2-1 |
1:1.1.dfsg2-1+deb8u1 |
org.apache.xmlgraphics:fopMaven |
before 2.2, plus listed versions 0.930.940.950.95-10.95beta Show 5 moreShow less0.95beta-11.01.12.02.1 |
2.2 |
fopUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 1:1.1.dfsg-2ubuntu1.1, plus listed versions 1:1.1.dfsg-2ubuntu1 |
1:1.1.dfsg-2ubuntu1.1 |
fopUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.1.dfsg2-1ubuntu11:2.1-2 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2017-5661 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.3) in Apache Software Foundation Fop, published April 18, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 2.52%, the 84th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.xmlgraphics:fop 2.2.