CVE-2016-4434
Apache Tika does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers
CVE-2016-4434 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Apache Tika, published September 29, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.57%, the 89th percentile. Fixed in org.apache.tika:tika-core 1.13.
- Severity
- 7.8 HighCVSS 3.0, NVD
- Exploit chance
- 3.57%EPSS, 89th percentile
- Exploitation
- None knownNot on CISA’s or ENISA’s lists
- Fixed in
1.13org.apache.tika:tika-core +4 more
Description
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
org.apache.tika:tika-coreMaven | before 1.13 | 1.13 |
tikaDebian:11 | before 1.18-1 | 1.18-1 |
org.apache.tika:tika-coreMaven | before 1.13, plus listed versions 0.100.40.50.60.7 Show 15 moreShow less0.80.91.01.11.101.111.121.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9 | 1.13 |
tikaUbuntu:16.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 1.5-21.5-31.5-41.5-4ubuntu0.1 | None known |
tikaUbuntu:18.04:LTS | All versions, plus listed versions 1.5-5 | None known |
What each source reports
NVD Score used
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
CVE-2016-4434- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 6.8 Medium
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE ListNo score
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
CVE-2016-4434- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-0507No score
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
EUVD-2018-0507- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-4xr4-4c65-hj7f
Apache Tika does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
GHSA-4xr4-4c65-hj7f- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
CVE-2016-4434- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2016-4434
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2016-4434- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVGHSA-4xr4-4c65-hj7f
Apache Tika does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
GHSA-4xr4-4c65-hj7f- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-611
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2016-4434
Apache Tika before 1.13 does not properly initialize the XML parser or choose handlers, which might allow remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via vectors involving (1) spreadsheets in OOXML files and (2) XMP metadata in PDF and other file formats, a related issue to CVE-2016-2175.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2016-4434- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
References
securityfocus.com/archive/1/538500/100/0/threaded
mail-archives.apache.org/mod_mbox/tika-dev/201605.mbox/%3C1705136517.1175366.1464278135251.JavaMail.yahoo%40mail.yahoo.com%3E
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0272.html
lists.apache.org/thread.html/708d94141126eac03011144a971a6411fcac16d9c248d1d535a39451%40%3Csolr-user.lucene.apache.org%3E
Show 6 moreShow less
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4434
github.com/advisories/GHSA-4xr4-4c65-hj7f
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-4434
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-4434
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-4434