Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-33913

XXE in Open-Emr Openemr ≤ 8.0.0.3

Public PoCXXE
Published
25 March 2026
Modified
26 March 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.7
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0029 22th percentile
Risk Priority 54 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-33913 is a high-severity Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (CWE-611) vulnerability in Open-Emr Openemr. Its CVSS base score is 7.7 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 22th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

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-2026-33913 is a vulnerability in OpenEMR, a free and open source electronic health records and medical practice management application. Versions prior to 8.0.0.3 are affected in the Carecoordination module, where an authenticated user can upload a crafted CCDA document containing an `<xi:include href="file:///etc/passwd" parse="text"/>` element. This enables arbitrary file reads from the server and is classified as CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference), with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.7 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N).

An authenticated attacker with access to the Carecoordination module can exploit this remotely over the network with low attack complexity and low privileges required, without user interaction. Successful exploitation allows reading arbitrary files on the server, resulting in high confidentiality impact due to the vulnerability's changed scope.

OpenEMR version 8.0.0.3 patches the issue. Mitigation involves updating to this release, as detailed in the patch commit (https://github.com/openemr/openemr/commit/67e1702c41cf486af0069bdafce19860e2cd9a11), release notes (https://github.com/openemr/openemr/releases/tag/v8_0_0_3), and security advisory (https://github.com/openemr/openemr/security/advisories/GHSA-9757-3cfj-wc8q).

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

OpenEMR is a free and open source electronic health records and medical practice management application. Prior to version 8.0.0.3, an authenticated user with access to the Carecoordination module can upload a crafted CCDA document containing `<xi:include href="file:///etc/passwd" parse="text"/>` to read…

more

arbitrary files from the server. Version 8.0.0.3 patches the issue.

CWE(s)

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.
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.
T1213 Data from Information Repositories Collection
Adversaries may leverage information repositories to mine valuable information.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-29789Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-33910Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-24908Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-25745Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-32120Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-25744Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-29187Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-25928Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-25930Same product: Open-Emr Openemr
CVE-2026-25746Same product: Open-Emr Openemr

Affected Assets

open-emr
openemr
≤ 8.0.0.3

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

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

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

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

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.

finds

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

finds

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