Cyber Resilience

CVE-2021-37425

XXE in Altova Mobiletogether Server 7.0 – 7.3

Public PoCHigh EPSSXXE
Published
10 August 2021
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H
EPSS Score 0.66 99.2th percentile
Risk Priority 88 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2021-37425 is a critical-severity Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (CWE-611) vulnerability in Altova Mobiletogether Server. Its CVSS base score is 9.1 (Critical).

Operationally, ranked in the top 0.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Altova MobileTogether Server before 7.3 SP1 allows XXE attacks, such as an InfoSetChanges/Changes attack against /workflowmanagement, or reading mobiletogetherserver.cfg and then reading the certificate and private key.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

Likely ATT&CK TechniquesAI

Techniques this vulnerability likely enables, inferred from its description, weakness type, and attributed-actor tradecraft. Confidence is per-technique.

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Accessconfidence: HIGH
XXE vulnerability in a public-facing server directly enables exploitation of the exposed application.
T1005 Data from Local System Collectionconfidence: HIGH
Successful XXE allows reading local files such as configuration files, certificates, and private keys.
T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Accessconfidence: HIGH
XXE can be used to read private key files from the server filesystem.
inferred from description + CWE · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-23195Shared CWE-611
CVE-2024-22354Shared CWE-611
CVE-2023-21862Shared CWE-611
CVE-2024-58335Shared CWE-611
CVE-2019-13608Shared CWE-611
CVE-2025-54992Shared CWE-611
CVE-2023-24441Shared CWE-611
CVE-2026-22186Shared CWE-611
CVE-2023-28685Shared CWE-611
CVE-2024-40075Shared CWE-611

Affected Assets

altova
mobiletogether server
7.3 · 7.0 — 7.3

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.5.1
  • V15.3.2

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-611

Penetration testing includes XML external entity payloads, detecting XXE vulnerabilities and enabling their mitigation.

addresses: CWE-611

Identifies XML external entity processing via monitoring of unusual file/network access or resource usage.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-01 mostly match
prevents

Hardened XML parser configurations directly disable external entity resolution.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices include input validation and safe XML parser configuration that prevent XXE.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning can discover XXE flaws but does not prevent their introduction in code.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching eliminates XXE-vulnerable parser versions but is only one aspect of software maintenance.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development catches XXE via static analysis and dynamic XML fuzzing.

detects

Vulnerability management identifies and patches XML libraries with unsafe default entity settings.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates input validation and entity handling that directly prevents XXE.

prevents

Application security requirements explicitly call for disabling external entity processing in XML parsers.

prevents

Secure architecture principles include safe parser configuration that mitigates external entity risks.

prevents

Secure coding standards require disabling DTDs and external entities in XML processing.

References