Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in dompdf/dompdf
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
An improper restriction of external entities (XXE) vulnerability in dompdf/dompdf's SVG parser allows for Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) and deserialization attacks. This issue affects all versions prior to 2.0.0. The vulnerability can be exploited even if the isRemoteEnabled option is set to false. It allows attackers to perform SSRF, disclose internal image files, and cause PHAR deserialization attacks.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dompdf | dompdf/dompdf | before 2.0.0 | 2.0.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | dompdf/dompdf (Packagist) | before 2.0.0 | 2.0.0 | Patch available | GHSA-3vjh-xrhf-v9xh |
- dompdf/dompdf Vendordompdf Affected before 2.0.0 Fixed in 2.0.0 Patch available CNA
- dompdf/dompdf (Packagist) Vendor— Affected before 2.0.0 Fixed in 2.0.0 Patch available GHSA-3vjh-xrhf-v9xh
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:dompdf_project:dompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 2.0.0 | Vulnerable | Dompdf Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:dompdf_project:dompdf:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.0.0 Vulnerable ·Dompdf Project
Remediation
- Fix · CNA dompdf/dompdf (dompdf) Fixed in 2.0.0
- Fix · GHSA-3vjh-xrhf-v9xh dompdf/dompdf (Packagist) Fixed in 2.0.0 Advisory →
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
dompdf/dompdf 2.0.0
2 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 2 HIGH
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2021-02769 PHAR Deserialization in dompdf/dompdfPriority HIGH 82
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-3902
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-3vjh-xrhf-v9xh
References
More dompdf vulnerabilities
- TI-2023-10313 URI validation failure on SVG parsing. Bypass of CVE-2023-23924 CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2023-09722 URI validation failure on SVG parsing in Dompdf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2021-02769 PHAR Deserialization in dompdf/dompdf CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-16571 php-svg-lib lacks path validation on font through SVG inline styles CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-27479 php-svg-lib possible DoS caused by infinite recursion when parsing SVG document CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-42749 Dompdf: Denial of Service (DoS) via Resource Exhaustion using Oversized Image Bitmaps CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.3
Sources
- CVE-2021-3902 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-3902 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-3vjh-xrhf-v9xh · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences