XML External Entity Vulnerability in WSO2 API Manager

CVE-2025-2905

What is CVE-2025-2905?

CVE-2025-2905 is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability found in the WSO2 API Manager, a widely used platform for building and managing APIs. The primary purpose of WSO2 API Manager is to facilitate API consumption and management, offering features such as access control, usage monitoring, and analytics. This specific vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of XML inputs, which allows user-supplied XML to be processed without appropriate restrictions. As a result, an unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive data stored on the server's filesystem or to execute denial-of-service (DoS) attacks that disrupt the availability of services.

In more technical terms, the vulnerability is related to how the gateway component of WSO2 API Manager parses crafted URL paths that contain XML data. For systems running older Java Development Kit (JDK) versions (7 or early JDK 8), the vulnerability may enable full file content exposure. In contrast, newer JDK versions might only allow reading the first line of a file due to enhanced security measures in XML parsing. Regardless of the JDK version, attackers might leverage this vulnerability to conduct DoS attacks, such as sending specially crafted payloads that overwhelm the service and render it inoperable.

Potential impact of CVE-2025-2905

1. Data Exposure: Unauthorized data access is a significant risk associated with CVE-2025-2905. Attackers can read sensitive files stored on the server, leading to potential information leaks that could compromise proprietary data or sensitive user information.

2. Denial of Service (DoS): The vulnerability allows the possibility of executing targeted DoS attacks, such as using "Billion Laughs" payloads, which can overwhelm the API Manager and disrupt service availability. This impact can significantly affect business operations, resulting in loss of reputation and revenue.

3. Increased Attack Surface: The existence of CVE-2025-2905 expands the attack surface for organizations using WSO2 API Manager. If exploited, it could serve as an entry point for more complex attacks, including data breaches or further network infiltration, by providing attackers a foothold within the system.

References