Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-58360

XXE in Geoserver ≤ 2.25.6

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedXXE
Published
25 November 2025
Modified
12 December 2025
KEV Added
11 December 2025
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.2
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:L
EPSS Score 0.65 99.2th percentile
Risk Priority 87 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-58360 is a high-severity Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (CWE-611) vulnerability in Geoserver Geoserver. Its CVSS base score is 8.2 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to CM-6 (Configuration Settings) and SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2025-58360 is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability (CWE-611) in GeoServer, an open-source server for sharing and editing geospatial data. It affects versions from 2.26.0 up to but excluding 2.26.2, as well as versions prior to 2.25.6. The issue stems from the /geoserver/wms operation GetMap endpoint, which accepts unsanitized XML input, allowing attackers to define external entities in requests. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L), indicating high severity due to network accessibility and significant confidentiality impact.

Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. Exploitation enables high-impact confidentiality violations, such as unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files on the server via external entity expansion, alongside low-impact availability effects.

GeoServer's security advisory (GHSA-fjf5-xgmq-5525) and issue tracker (GEOS-11682) confirm patches in versions 2.25.6, 2.26.3, and 2.27.0. The vulnerability is also listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, signaling real-world exploitation and urging immediate mitigation by affected organizations.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

A02:2025 Security Misconfiguration

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

GeoServer is an open source server that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. From version 2.26.0 to before 2.26.2 and before 2.25.6, an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability was identified. The application accepts XML input through a specific…

more

endpoint /geoserver/wms operation GetMap. However, this input is not sufficiently sanitized or restricted, allowing an attacker to define external entities within the XML request. This issue has been patched in GeoServer 2.25.6, GeoServer 2.26.3, and GeoServer 2.27.0.

CWE(s)
CWE-611
KEV Date Added
11 December 2025

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
attack.mitre.org →
T1213 Data from Information Repositories Collection
Adversaries may leverage information repositories to mine valuable information.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-41877Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2024-23634Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2024-23818Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2024-23821Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2024-23643Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2024-23819Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2023-51445Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2024-23642Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2025-21621Same product: Geoserver Geoserver
CVE-2024-23640Same product: Geoserver Geoserver

Affected Assets

geoserver
geoserver
≤ 2.25.6 · 2.26.0 — 2.26.2

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

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

CM-6 Configuration Settings good match

Secure configuration settings can disable external entity processing in XML parsers.

SA-11 Developer Testing and Evaluation good match

Developer testing can discover XXE flaws through targeted XML parsing tests.

SI-10 Information Input Validation good match

Input validation can reject or sanitize XML containing external entity references.

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.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

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

A.8.8 Management of technical vulnerabilities mostly match
finds

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

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

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

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

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

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

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

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

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

References