CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-3415NVD status: Deferred

WSO2 API Manager: Improper Restriction of Recursive Entity References in DTDs

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-3415 is a high-severity improper restriction of recursive entity references in dtds vulnerability in WSO2 API Manager from WSO2, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.7 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 3.2.0.472, 3.2.1.91, 4.1.0.254 as the first without the flaw, so updating WSO2 API Manager to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.49% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update WSO2 API Manager to 3.2.0.472 or 3.2.1.91 or 4.1.0.254 or 4.2.0.194, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update WSO2 Universal Gateway to 4.5.0.53 or 4.6.0.16, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Update WSO2 Traffic Manager to 4.5.0.52 or 4.6.0.16, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on security.docs.wso2.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
WSO2WSO2 API Manager3.2.0 up to, but not including, 3.2.0.472; 3.2.1 up to, but not including, 3.2.1.91; 4.1.0 up to, but not including, 4.1.0.254; 4.2.0 up to, but not including, 4.2.0.194; 4.3.0 up to, but not including, 4.3.0.105; 4.4.0 up to, but not including, 4.4.0.68; 4.5.0 up to, but not including, 4.5.0.53; 4.6.0 up to, but not including, 4.6.0.163.2.0.472, 3.2.1.91, 4.1.0.254, 4.2.0.194, 4.3.0.105, 4.4.0.68
WSO2WSO2 Universal Gateway4.5.0 up to, but not including, 4.5.0.53; 4.6.0 up to, but not including, 4.6.0.164.5.0.53, 4.6.0.16
WSO2WSO2 Traffic Manager4.5.0 up to, but not including, 4.5.0.52; 4.6.0 up to, but not including, 4.6.0.164.5.0.52, 4.6.0.16
WSO2WSO2 API Control Plane4.5.0 up to, but not including, 4.5.0.54; 4.6.0 up to, but not including, 4.6.0.174.5.0.54, 4.6.0.17
WSO2WSO2 Carbon API Gateway6.7.206 up to, but not including, 6.7.206.594; 6.7.210 up to, but not including, 6.7.210.95; 9.20.74 up to, but not including, 9.20.74.398; 9.28.116 up to, but not including, 9.28.116.412; 9.29.120 up to, but not including, 9.29.120.228; 9.30.67 up to, but not including, 9.30.67.158; 9.31.86 up to, but not including, 9.31.86.147; 9.32.147 up to, but not including, 9.32.147.386.7.206.594, 6.7.210.95, 9.20.74.398, 9.28.116.412, 9.29.120.228, 9.30.67.158
WSO2WSO2 Carbon API Management Implementation6.7.206 up to, but not including, 6.7.206.594; 6.7.210 up to, but not including, 6.7.210.95; 9.20.74 up to, but not including, 9.20.74.398; 9.28.116 up to, but not including, 9.28.116.412; 9.29.120 up to, but not including, 9.29.120.228; 9.30.67 up to, but not including, 9.30.67.158; 9.31.86 up to, but not including, 9.31.86.147; 9.32.147 up to, but not including, 9.32.147.386.7.206.594, 6.7.210.95, 9.20.74.398, 9.28.116.412, 9.29.120.228, 9.30.67.158

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA.

Official description

The XML and schema validation functionalities within the SchemaValidator Mediator process XML input as part of validation flows. Under certain conditions, the XML parser allows the resolution of external entities when handling user-supplied XML content during validation operations. This behavior can occur when an attacker supplies crafted XML payloads to the relevant mediator flows with sufficient privileges. Successful exploitation may allow a highly privileged actor to read files accessible within the server hosting the affected product. Additionally, it may be possible to trigger outbound requests to unintended internal or external locations, depending on the server environment and network configuration. Specially crafted XML payloads can also lead to excessive resource consumption during parsing, impacting the availability of the product.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Restriction of Recursive Entity References in DTDs

The product uses XML documents and allows their structure to be defined with a Document Type Definition (DTD), but it does not properly control the number of recursive definitions of entities.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If possible, prohibit the use of DTDs or use an XML parser that limits the expansion of recursive DTD entities.
  • Before parsing XML files with associated DTDs, scan for recursive entity declarations and do not continue parsing potentially explosive content.

More Improper Restriction of Recursive Entity References in DTDs vulnerabilities (CWE-776)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in WSO2 API Manager

All WSO2 API Manager vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Restriction of Recursive Entity References in DTDs vulnerabilities

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