CVE-2025-68280: Sis metadata Apache SIS Has Improper Restriction Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-jqmr-2pg9-vfx7
Share
CVSS 6.5
CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2025-68280 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.5) apache sis has improper restriction vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Sis metadata libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache sis has improper restriction of xml external entity reference vulnerability. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.6.

CVE-2025-68280 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2025-68280
GHSA Identifier GHSA-jqmr-2pg9-vfx7
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.5
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Sis metadata
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
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-2025-68280

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Sis metadata 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.sis.core:sis-metadata fixed: 1.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.sis.core</groupId>
    <artifactId>sis-metadata</artifactId>
    <version>1.6</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.sis.core

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2025-68280, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.sis.core

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Sis metadata in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.6), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.sis.core 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 Sis metadata, 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

Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability in Apache SIS. It is possible to write XML files in such a way that, when parsed by Apache SIS, an XML file reveals to the attacker the content of a local file on the server running Apache SIS. This vulnerability impacts the following SIS services: * Reading of GeoTIFF files having the GEO_METADATA tag defined by the Defense Geospatial Information Working Group (DGIWG). * Parsing of ISO 19115 metadata in XML format. * Parsing of Coordinate Reference Systems defined in the GML format. * Parsing of files in GPS Exchange Format (GPX). This issue affects Apache SIS from versions 0.4 through 1.5 inclusive. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.6, which will fix the issue. In the meantime, the security vulnerability can be avoided by launching Java with the javax.xml.accessExternalDTD system property sets to a comma-separated list of authorized protocols. For example: java -Djavax.xml.accessExternalDTD="" ...

CVE-2025-68280 Affected Sis metadata Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.sis.core:sis-metadata
maven/org.apache.sis.core/sis-metadata
Maven
≥ 0.4
< 1.6
1.6

References

NVD — CVE-2025-68280 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68280
Sis metadata Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/sis
lists.apache.org/thread/s4ggy3zbtrrn... WEB
https://lists.apache.org/thread/s4ggy3zbtrrn93glgo2vn52lgcxk4bp4
Sis metadata Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/05/11
Sis metadata Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/05/7

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2025-68280?
CVE-2025-68280 is a security vulnerability in Sis metadata involving Apache SIS has Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Sis metadata versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.6 across affected packages: org.apache.sis.core:sis-metadata.
What version fixes CVE-2025-68280?
Upgrading to 1.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is sis-metadata affected?
Yes, org.apache.sis.core:sis-metadata is affected in releases prior to 1.6. Upgrade your dependency to 1.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2025-68280?
CVE-2025-68280 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2025-68280?
CVE-2025-68280 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-2025-68280?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.sis.core'. 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-jqmr-2pg9-vfx7",
  "modified" : "2026-01-05T23:14:54Z",
  "published" : "2026-01-05T15:32:15Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2025-68280" ],
  "summary" : "Apache SIS has Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability",
  "details" : "Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability in Apache SIS.\n\n\n\nIt is possible to write XML files in such a way that, when parsed by Apache SIS, an XML file reveals to the attacker the content of a local file on the server running Apache SIS. This vulnerability impacts the following SIS services:\n\n\n\n\n  *  Reading of GeoTIFF files having the GEO_METADATA tag defined by the Defense Geospatial Information Working Group (DGIWG).\n\n  *  Parsing of ISO 19115 metadata in XML format.\n\n  *  Parsing of Coordinate Reference Systems defined in the GML format.\n\n  *  Parsing of files in GPS Exchange Format (GPX).\n\n\n\n\n\nThis issue affects Apache SIS from versions 0.4 through 1.5 inclusive. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 1.6, which will fix the issue. In the meantime, the security vulnerability can be avoided by launching Java with the javax.xml.accessExternalDTD system property sets to a comma-separated list of authorized protocols. For example:\n\n\n\njava -Djavax.xml.accessExternalDTD=\"\" ...",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.sis.core:sis-metadata"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.4"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68280"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/sis"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lists.apache.org/thread/s4ggy3zbtrrn93glgo2vn52lgcxk4bp4"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/05/11"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/01/05/7"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2026-01-05T23:14:54Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-01-05T14:15:53Z"
  }
}