# Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (CWE-611)

The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.

**Stack:** Python

- Prevalence: Media 3 lenguajes cubiertos
- Impact: Alto 3 reglas de severidad alta
- Prevention: Documentada 3 ejemplos de corrección

**OWASP:** Security Misconfiguration (A05:2021-Security Misconfiguration) - #5

## Description

XML External Entity (XXE) attacks exploit features of XML parsers to read local files, perform server-side request forgery, or cause denial of service.

## Prevention

Estrategias de prevención para XML External Entity (XXE) basadas en 1 reglas de detección de Shoulder.

### Key Practices

- Use denial of service

### Python

Use defusedxml instead of standard XML parsers for untrusted input

## Warning Signs

- [HIGH] XML parsing with external entity processing enabled

## Consequences

- Leer datos de la aplicación
- Leer archivos o directorios
- DoS

## Mitigations

- Desactiva el procesamiento de entidades externas en los parsers XML
- Usa formatos de datos menos complejos como JSON cuando sea posible
- Valida y sanea las entradas XML

## Detection

- Total rules: 3
- Languages: go, javascript, typescript, python

## Rules by Language

### Python (1 rules)

- **XML External Entity (XXE) Injection** [HIGH]: Detects XML parsing with external entity processing enabled. XXE attacks
allow attackers to read local files, perform SSRF, or cause denial of service.
Always disable external entity processing when parsing untrusted XML.
  - Remediation: Use defusedxml instead of standard XML parsers for untrusted input.

```python
import defusedxml.ElementTree as ET
from flask import request, jsonify

@app.route('/api/xml', methods=['POST'])
def parse_xml():
    try:
        root = ET.fromstring(request.data)
        return jsonify({'name': root.find('name').text})
    except ET.ParseError:
        return jsonify({'error': 'Invalid XML'}), 400
```

Learn more: https://shoulder.dev/learn/python/cwe-611/xxe