Engineering Lifecycle Management: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
CVE-2026-3603 is a high-severity improper restriction of XML external entity reference vulnerability in Engineering Lifecycle Management from IBM, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Engineering Lifecycle Management versions: 7.0.3 Interim Fix 001 through Interim Fix 021; 7.1.0 Interim Fix 001 through Interim Fix 009; 7.2.0 and 7.2.0 Interim Fix 001. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.35% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Engineering Lifecycle Management you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on ibm.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBM | Engineering Lifecycle Management | 7.0.3 Interim Fix 001 through Interim Fix 021; 7.1.0 Interim Fix 001 through Interim Fix 009; 7.2.0 and 7.2.0 Interim Fix 001 | Not stated |
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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- LowPerformance or availability is reduced.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L. Scored by CNA (us.ibm.com).
Official description
IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management 7.0.3 Interim Fix 001 through Interim Fix 021, 7.1.0 Interim Fix 001 through Interim Fix 009, and 7.2.0 and 7.2.0 Interim Fix 001 is vulnerable to an XML external entity injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. An authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Many XML parsers and validators can be configured to disable external entity expansion.
More Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerabilities (CWE-611)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Engineering Lifecycle Management
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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