CVE-2025-30220 is classified as a critical vulnerability affecting GeoTools, GeoServer, and GeoNetwork. This vulnerability allows XML External Entity (XXE) exploits due to the improper handling of XML processing. The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its CVSS score of 9.9, indicating a critical risk level for organizations utilizing these technologies.
The urgency for defenders is high; organizations should prioritize patching immediately. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access, potentially leading to sensitive data exposure or manipulation. The impact of this vulnerability extends to any deployment that exposes XML processing with gt-xsd-core involved in parsing external XML schemas.
The vulnerability was published on June 10, 2025, and has been analyzed extensively. It is crucial for organizations to apply the necessary patches to their systems to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
The vulnerability affects versions of GeoTools prior to 33.1, GeoServer before 2.27.1, and GeoNetwork before 4.4.8. Remediation steps should be taken as soon as possible to prevent potential exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
GeoServer is an open-source server that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. GeoTools Schema class use of Eclipse XSD library to represent schema data structure is vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) exploit. This impacts whoever exposes XML processing with gt-xsd-core involved in parsing, when the documents carry a reference to an external XML schema. The gt-xsd-core Schemas class is not using the EntityResolver provided by the ParserHandler. This also impacts users of gt-wfs-ng DataStore where the ENTITY_RESOLVER connection parameter was not being used as intended.
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-611 (XML External Entity Reference) and CWE-918 (Inclusion of Sensitive Information in a Resource Accessible by Downstream Users).
The CVSS score of 9.9 indicates a critical severity level, with a network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The impact on confidentiality is high, while integrity and availability impacts are low.
This vulnerability is fixed in GeoTools versions 33.1, 32.3, 31.7, and 28.6.1, GeoServer versions 2.27.1, 2.26.3, and 2.25.7, and GeoNetwork versions 4.4.8 and 4.2.13.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper configuration of XML processing in the GeoTools Schema class, which fails to utilize the EntityResolver provided by the ParserHandler. This oversight allows attackers to exploit XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerabilities by referencing external XML schemas.
The attack vector is network-based, and due to the low attack complexity, attackers can easily exploit this vulnerability without needing any special permissions, nor is user interaction required. The confidentiality impact is high as sensitive data can be exposed, while the integrity and availability impacts are assessed to be low.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Organizations utilizing GeoTools, GeoServer, and GeoNetwork are at significant risk due to the critical nature of this vulnerability. The potential for unauthorized access to sensitive geospatial data can have far-reaching consequences, especially for organizations reliant on accurate geographical information.
The blast radius of this vulnerability encompasses any application or service that relies on XML processing for geospatial data management. Organizations should evaluate their exposure to this vulnerability and assess the urgency based on the CVSS score and the potential impact on their operations.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects the following versions: GeoTools prior to 33.1, GeoServer versions prior to 2.27.1, and GeoNetwork versions prior to 4.4.8. Organizations should ensure they are using the patched versions to mitigate this risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations must prioritize patching their installations of GeoTools, GeoServer, and GeoNetwork to the following versions: GeoTools 33.1, 32.3, 31.7, and 28.6.1; GeoServer 2.27.1, 2.26.3, and 2.25.7; and GeoNetwork 4.4.8 and 4.2.13. In addition to applying the patches, organizations should review their XML processing configurations to prevent the potential for XXE attacks.
Penetration testing services can help validate the effectiveness of these configurations and identify potential weaknesses.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual XML processing behavior and implement alerts for any unauthorized access attempts. Behavioral anomalies and network signatures indicative of XXE attacks should also be investigated promptly.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2025-30220 highlights the importance of secure XML processing configurations in geospatial applications. Security teams should be aware of the trends in XML External Entity vulnerabilities and ensure their systems are configured to prevent such exploits. Regular reviews of security practices and configurations can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation.
Organizations are encouraged to stay updated with security advisories and to conduct periodic evaluations of their security posture. Leveraging resources such as vulnerability management programs and penetration testing methodologies can aid in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities effectively.
In conclusion, organizations leveraging GeoTools, GeoServer, and GeoNetwork must act decisively to patch this critical vulnerability and reassess their XML processing configurations to safeguard their geospatial data against potential exploitation.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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