CVE-2026-22186
Bio-Formats <= 8.3.0 XXE in Leica XLEF Metadata Parser
MEDIUM 4.6EPSS 0.2%
Bio-Formats versions up to and including 8.3.0 contain an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in the Leica Microsystems metadata parsing component (e.g., XLEF). The parser uses an insecurely configured DocumentBuilderFactory when processing Leica XML-based metadata files, allowing external entity expansion and external DTD loading. A crafted metadata file can trigger outbound network requests (SSRF), access local system resources where readable, or cause a denial of service during XML parsing.
- Affected
- Open Microscopy Environment · Bio-Formats
- CVSS v4.0 VULNCHECK
- 4.6 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - CVSS v4.0 GitHub
- 4.6 MEDIUM
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - CVSS v3.1 NVD
- 7.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - EPSS
- 0.17% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, 6th percentile
- Published
- 2026-01-07
- Updated
- 2026-10-08
Proof-of-concept exploits (1)
Security advisories
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/bio-formats-xxe-in-leica-xlef-metadata-parser
- advisories/GHSA-fcqj-76g3-q7qm
- https://docs.openmicroscopy.org/bio-formats