CVE-2016-5000: Poi examples Apache POI's XLSX2CSV Example XML Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-pmqq-7wfv-jfff
Share
CVSS 5.5
CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2016-5000 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.5) apache poi's xlsx2csv example xml vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Poi examples libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache poi's xlsx2csv example xml external entity (xxe) vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.14.

CVE-2016-5000 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2016-5000
GHSA Identifier GHSA-pmqq-7wfv-jfff
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.5
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Poi examples
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Local (AV:L)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction Required (UI:R)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2016-5000

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Poi examples dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.poi:poi-examples fixed: 3.14 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.poi</groupId>
    <artifactId>poi-examples</artifactId>
    <version>3.14</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2016-5000, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Poi examples in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.14), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, where 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. In Poi examples, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The XLSX2CSV example in Apache POI before 3.14 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a crafted OpenXML document containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.

CVE-2016-5000 Affected Poi examples Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.14
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.poi:poi-examples
maven/org.apache.poi/poi-examples
Maven
< 3.14
3.14

References

NVD — CVE-2016-5000 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5000
lists.apache.org/list.html WEB
https://lists.apache.org/list.html?user@poi.apache.org
Poi examples Security Information SECURITY
https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html
www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss WEB
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21996759

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2016-5000?
CVE-2016-5000 is a security vulnerability in Poi examples involving Apache POI's XLSX2CSV Example XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Poi examples versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.14 across affected packages: org.apache.poi:poi-examples.
What version fixes CVE-2016-5000?
Upgrading to 3.14 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is poi-examples affected?
Yes, org.apache.poi:poi-examples is affected in releases prior to 3.14. Upgrade your dependency to 3.14 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2016-5000?
CVE-2016-5000 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2016-5000?
CVE-2016-5000 is classified under CWE-611: 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 can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2016-5000?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.poi'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-pmqq-7wfv-jfff",
  "modified" : "2023-09-26T11:39:10Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-13T01:14:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2016-5000" ],
  "summary" : "Apache POI's XLSX2CSV Example XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability",
  "details" : "The XLSX2CSV example in Apache POI before 3.14 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a crafted OpenXML document containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.poi:poi-examples"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.14"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.13"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-5000"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/list.html?user@poi.apache.org"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2020.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21996759"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-06T19:53:05Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2016-08-05T14:59:00Z"
  }
}