CVE-2026-22186

Bio-Formats versions up to and including 8.3.0 contain an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in the Leica Microsystems metadata parsing component (e.g., XLEF). The parser uses an insecurely configured DocumentBuilderFactory when processing Leica XML-based metadata files, allowing external entity expansion and external DTD loading. A crafted metadata file can trigger outbound network requests (SSRF), access local system resources where readable, or cause a denial of service during XML parsing.

CVSS 4.0

4.6CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVSS 3.1

7.1CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

EPSS

0.2% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days; higher than 6% of CVEs (scores of 2026-10-25)

CWE

CWE-611

Published

2026-01-07

Modified

2026-10-08

Record from

the NVD, synced 2026-10-19

Affected

• openmicroscopy:bio-formats

Packages (OSV)

References

• https://docs.openmicroscopy.org/bio-formats/
• https://github.com/ome/bioformats/security/advisories/GHSA-x9vc-qh97-8gjp
• https://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2026/Jan/6
• https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/bio-formats-xxe-in-leica-xlef-metadata-parser

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