GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h
CRITICALGHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h is a critical-severity (CVSS 9.8) XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox. O3 Security confirms whether GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h is actually reachable in your code before you act, and blocks exploitation at runtime until you patch.
Vulnerability that affects org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox
Real-World Exposure
org.apache.pdfbox:pdfboxReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Maven packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
Apache PDFBox 2.0.14 does not properly initialize the XML parser, which allows context-dependent attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via a crafted XFDF.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☕Maven | org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox | ≥ 2.0.14&&< 2.0.15 | 2.0.15 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update org.apache.pdfbox:pdfbox to 2.0.15 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-c9jj-3wvg-q65h across Maven dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.