OSGeo GeoServer Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference Vulnerability
OSGeo · GeoServer
The flaw is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in the GeoServer open source geospatial data server, specifically in the XML input handling of its /geoserver/wms endpoint for the GetMap operation. An attacker who can send a crafted XML request to that endpoint, without authentication or user interaction, can define external entities that the server processes, provided the affected GeoServer versions are in use (2.26.0 up to 2.26.2, and earlier than 2.25.6).
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 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.
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 2/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 16 days after disclosure. Public exploit code (Metasploit) was available the same day.
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
Patch historyEarlier and later CVEs in the same code, in date order. It shows when a fix was bypassed or incomplete and which version finally fixed it.
5 fixes in gs-wms over 20 months. The latest fix listed for gs-wms is 2.26.3.
Fixes in gs-wmsMaven package, by fixed version. Earlier and later fixes in the same package, not necessarily the same bug.
- 2.24.1CVE-2024-2381820 Mar 2024
- 2.25.0CVE-2025-2162125 Nov 2025
- 2.25.2CVE-2024-364011 Jul 2024KEV
- 2.26.2CVE-2025-5836025 Nov 2025KEV
- 2.26.3CVE-2025-3014510 Jun 2025Latest listed
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2Initial AccessTA0001
Unauthenticated XXE via public WMS endpoint
allowing an attacker to define external entities within the XML request
CollectionTA0009
XXE enables reading local files
allowing an attacker to define external entities within the XML request
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 163 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2025-58360 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Exploit Public-Facing ApplicationT1190149 general rules
- Arcadyan Router Exploitationscriticaltest
- Citrix ADS Exploitation CVE-2020-8193 CVE-2020-8195criticaltest
- Citrix Netscaler Attack CVE-2019-19781criticaltest
- Confluence Exploitation CVE-2019-3398criticaltest
- CVE-2010-5278 Exploitation Attemptcriticaltest
- CVE-2020-0688 Exchange Exploitation via Web Logcriticaltest
- CVE-2020-10148 SolarWinds Orion API Auth Bypasscriticaltest
- CVE-2020-5902 F5 BIG-IP Exploitation Attemptcriticaltest
Data from Local SystemT100514 general rules
- OpenCanary - SMB File Open Requesthightest
- Potential Conti Ransomware Database Dumping Activity Via SQLCmdhightest
- SQLite Chromium Profile Data DB Accesshightest
- SQLite Firefox Profile Data DB Accesshightest
- VeeamBackup Database Credentials Dump Via Sqlcmd.EXEhightest
- Script Interpreter Spawning Credential Scanner - Linuxhighexperimental
- Script Interpreter Spawning Credential Scanner - Windowshighexperimental
- Shai-Hulud NPM Package Malicious Exfiltration via Curlhighexperimental
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
Am I affected? What do I upgrade to?
From GitHub Security Advisories and OSV2 packages in 1 ecosystem. No single main package: each of these ships the affected code.
- Mavenorg.geoserver.web:gs-web-appAffected: 2.26.0 up to 2.26.2; All versions before 2.25.6Upgrade to 2.26.3 or later (older lines: 2.25.7)
- Mavenorg.geoserver:gs-wmsAffected: 2.26.0 up to 2.26.2; All versions before 2.25.6Upgrade to 2.26.2 or later (older lines: 2.25.6)
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 30, 202629 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX