CVE-2026-34401 (GCVE-0-2026-34401)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-03-31 21:05 – Updated: 2026-04-01 15:53
VLAI
Title
XML Notepad: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection via Unsafe XmlTextReader in XML Diff and Schema Loading
Summary
XML Notepad is a Windows program that provides a simple intuitive User Interface for browsing and editing XML documents. Prior to version 2.9.0.21, XML Notepad does not disable DTD processing by default which means external entities are resolved automatically. There is a well known attack related to malicious DTD files where an attacker to craft a malicious XML file that loads a DTD that causes XML Notepad to make outbound HTTP/SMB requests, potentially leaking local file contents or capturing the victim's NTLM credentials. This issue has been patched in version 2.9.0.21.
SSVC
Exploitation: poc Automatable: no Technical Impact: partial
CISA Coordinator · CISA-ADP (v2.0.3)
Decision recorded 2026-04-01 15:45 UTC
CWE
  • CWE-611 - Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Assigner
GitHub_M CNA under the mitre root
CNA scorecard C 72/100 over 7993 records in the last 180 days details
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
microsoft XmlNotepad Affected: < 2.9.0.21
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-34401",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-04-01T15:45:24.184266Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-04-01T15:53:18.538Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "exploit"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "XmlNotepad",
          "vendor": "microsoft",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "\u003c 2.9.0.21"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "XML Notepad is a Windows program that provides a simple intuitive User Interface for browsing and editing XML documents. Prior to version 2.9.0.21, XML Notepad does not disable DTD processing by default which means external entities are resolved automatically. There is a well known attack related to malicious DTD files where an attacker to craft a malicious XML file that loads a DTD that causes XML Notepad to make outbound HTTP/SMB requests, potentially leaking local file contents or capturing the victim\u0027s NTLM credentials. This issue has been patched in version 2.9.0.21."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "NETWORK",
            "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
            "baseScore": 6.5,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "integrityImpact": "NONE",
            "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
            "scope": "UNCHANGED",
            "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
            "version": "3.1"
          }
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-611",
              "description": "CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-03-31T21:05:50.647Z",
        "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "shortName": "GitHub_M"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/3665603d61ba10b7827a3724e854748cb780140c",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/3665603d61ba10b7827a3724e854748cb780140c"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/c03ab2311ac6960452eb1ab49098768f851dcc53",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/c03ab2311ac6960452eb1ab49098768f851dcc53"
        },
        {
          "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/releases/tag/2.9.0.21",
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/releases/tag/2.9.0.21"
        }
      ],
      "source": {
        "advisory": "GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch",
        "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
      },
      "title": "XML Notepad: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection via Unsafe XmlTextReader in XML Diff and Schema Loading"
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
    "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-34401",
    "datePublished": "2026-03-31T21:05:50.647Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-03-27T13:45:29.620Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-04-01T15:53:18.538Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2026-34401",
      "date": "2026-11-07",
      "epss": "0.01024",
      "percentile": "0.63731"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "affected": [
          {
            "affectedData": [
              {
                "product": "XmlNotepad",
                "vendor": "microsoft",
                "versions": [
                  {
                    "status": "affected",
                    "version": "\u003c 2.9.0.21"
                  }
                ]
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com"
          }
        ],
        "configurations": [
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:xml_notepad:*:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "F08C7164-A566-4527-8764-F9BC54E164F1",
                    "versionEndExcluding": "2.9.0.21",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "XML Notepad is a Windows program that provides a simple intuitive User Interface for browsing and editing XML documents. Prior to version 2.9.0.21, XML Notepad does not disable DTD processing by default which means external entities are resolved automatically. There is a well known attack related to malicious DTD files where an attacker to craft a malicious XML file that loads a DTD that causes XML Notepad to make outbound HTTP/SMB requests, potentially leaking local file contents or capturing the victim\u0027s NTLM credentials. This issue has been patched in version 2.9.0.21."
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "XML Notepad es un programa de Windows que proporciona una interfaz de usuario sencilla e intuitiva para navegar y editar documentos XML. Antes de la versi\u00f3n 2.9.0.21, XML Notepad no deshabilita el procesamiento de DTD por defecto, lo que significa que las entidades externas se resuelven autom\u00e1ticamente. Existe un ataque bien conocido relacionado con archivos DTD maliciosos donde un atacante puede crear un archivo XML malicioso que carga un DTD que hace que XML Notepad realice solicitudes HTTP/SMB salientes, potencialmente filtrando el contenido de archivos locales o capturando las credenciales NTLM de la v\u00edctima. Este problema ha sido parcheado en la versi\u00f3n 2.9.0.21."
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2026-34401",
        "lastModified": "2026-07-24T21:10:00.143",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "baseScore": 6.5,
                "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "NONE",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 2.8,
              "impactScore": 3.6,
              "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
              "type": "Secondary"
            }
          ],
          "ssvcV203": [
            {
              "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "ssvcData": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-34401",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "exploitation": "poc"
                  },
                  {
                    "automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "technicalImpact": "partial"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-04-01T15:45:24.184266Z",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              }
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2026-03-31T22:16:18.490",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Patch"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/3665603d61ba10b7827a3724e854748cb780140c"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Patch"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/c03ab2311ac6960452eb1ab49098768f851dcc53"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Product",
              "Release Notes"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/releases/tag/2.9.0.21"
          },
          {
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "tags": [
              "Mitigation",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch"
          },
          {
            "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
            "tags": [
              "Mitigation",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "security-advisories@github.com",
        "vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-611"
              }
            ],
            "source": "security-advisories@github.com",
            "type": "Secondary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "current_release_date": "2026-04-01T23:00:54+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-34401",
      "id": "CVE-2026-34401",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "1",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "XML Notepad: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection via Unsafe XmlTextReader in XML Diff and Schema Loading",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-34401.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": {
        "adp": [
          {
            "metrics": [
              {
                "other": {
                  "content": {
                    "id": "CVE-2026-34401",
                    "options": [
                      {
                        "Exploitation": "poc"
                      },
                      {
                        "Automatable": "no"
                      },
                      {
                        "Technical Impact": "partial"
                      }
                    ],
                    "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                    "timestamp": "2026-04-01T15:45:24.184266Z",
                    "version": "2.0.3"
                  },
                  "type": "ssvc"
                }
              }
            ],
            "providerMetadata": {
              "dateUpdated": "2026-04-01T15:45:51.351Z",
              "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
              "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
            },
            "references": [
              {
                "tags": [
                  "exploit"
                ],
                "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch"
              }
            ],
            "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
          }
        ],
        "cna": {
          "affected": [
            {
              "product": "XmlNotepad",
              "vendor": "microsoft",
              "versions": [
                {
                  "status": "affected",
                  "version": "\u003c 2.9.0.21"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "XML Notepad is a Windows program that provides a simple intuitive User Interface for browsing and editing XML documents. Prior to version 2.9.0.21, XML Notepad does not disable DTD processing by default which means external entities are resolved automatically. There is a well known attack related to malicious DTD files where an attacker to craft a malicious XML file that loads a DTD that causes XML Notepad to make outbound HTTP/SMB requests, potentially leaking local file contents or capturing the victim\u0027s NTLM credentials. This issue has been patched in version 2.9.0.21."
            }
          ],
          "metrics": [
            {
              "cvssV3_1": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "baseScore": 6.5,
                "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "NONE",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
                "version": "3.1"
              }
            }
          ],
          "problemTypes": [
            {
              "descriptions": [
                {
                  "cweId": "CWE-611",
                  "description": "CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference",
                  "lang": "en",
                  "type": "CWE"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "providerMetadata": {
            "dateUpdated": "2026-03-31T21:05:50.647Z",
            "orgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
            "shortName": "GitHub_M"
          },
          "references": [
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_CONFIRM"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/security/advisories/GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/3665603d61ba10b7827a3724e854748cb780140c",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/3665603d61ba10b7827a3724e854748cb780140c"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/c03ab2311ac6960452eb1ab49098768f851dcc53",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/commit/c03ab2311ac6960452eb1ab49098768f851dcc53"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/releases/tag/2.9.0.21",
              "tags": [
                "x_refsource_MISC"
              ],
              "url": "https://github.com/microsoft/XmlNotepad/releases/tag/2.9.0.21"
            }
          ],
          "source": {
            "advisory": "GHSA-5j32-486h-42ch",
            "discovery": "UNKNOWN"
          },
          "title": "XML Notepad: XML External Entity (XXE) Injection via Unsafe XmlTextReader in XML Diff and Schema Loading"
        }
      },
      "cveMetadata": {
        "assignerOrgId": "a0819718-46f1-4df5-94e2-005712e83aaa",
        "assignerShortName": "GitHub_M",
        "cveId": "CVE-2026-34401",
        "datePublished": "2026-03-31T21:05:50.647Z",
        "dateReserved": "2026-03-27T13:45:29.620Z",
        "dateUpdated": "2026-04-01T15:53:18.538Z",
        "state": "PUBLISHED"
      },
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.2"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.


Loading…

Loading…

Loading…

Drag nodes to arrange them. Double-click a related vulnerability to open it, or a source to visit its link. The Physics button on the left tunes the layout and the simulation; the legend at the bottom left hides or shows nodes by kind and by sighting type.

Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline

Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC

JSON
How durations are calculated

Following the VTEM framework (Black Hat USA 2015), time to patch starts when the vendor or a coordinator was informed, total time to patch at discovery, and disclosure to patch at public disclosure; vendor response time runs from the report to its acknowledgement. Time to exploit and time unpatched start at the earliest discovery or report, falling back to public disclosure. Unpatched time ends at the first recorded patch, or the calculation time when no patch is recorded. Exploitation to patch shows the interval between those two events; a published proof of concept is a public exploit, not exploitation.

Each result shows its source dates. A negative interval means the end event came first; when date-only inputs leave the order open, the result says so. Date-only inputs are approximate. The earliest evidence wins: KEV report dates and sightings are labelled as such. Records describing another vulnerability are listed but never calculated from, and a PoC alone does not establish exploitation. Missing patch evidence does not prove that no patch exists. Filters below change the event list only.

Events included in the timeline

Loading timeline…


    Loading…

    Loading…

    Loading…

    Related by attack behaviour

    Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.