Review reviewHigh

CVE-2026-56817

netty

Netty is a network application framework for development of protocol servers and clients. In versions 4.2.0.Final through 4.2.15.Final and 4.1.0.Final through 4.1.135.Final, any caller that can deliver bytes to a Netty channel pipeline containing `XmlDecoder` can send XML with a `DOCTYPE` declaration to an `AsyncXMLInputFactory` instantiated with no security configuration, leaving DTD and entity handling active depending on Aalto XML async parser behavior and creating conditional XML external entity risk. This issue is fixed in versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final.

CVSS
8.3
EPSS
-
- percentile
CISA KEV
Not listed
Published
2026.07.22
PRIORITY ASSESSMENT

Review review

The CVSS severity warrants an early asset and exposure review.

Known exploitationNot established by KEV
Exploit probability-
Technical severityCVSS 8.3

Vulnerability overview

Netty is a network application framework for development of protocol servers and clients. In versions 4.2.0.Final through 4.2.15.Final and 4.1.0.Final through 4.1.135.Final, any caller that can deliver bytes to a Netty channel pipeline containing `XmlDecoder` can send XML with a `DOCTYPE` declaration to an `AsyncXMLInputFactory` instantiated with no security configuration, leaving DTD and entity handling active depending on Aalto XML async parser behavior and creating conditional XML external entity risk. This issue is fixed in versions 4.1.136.Final and 4.2.16.Final.

Affected product and versions

Product
netty
Affected versions
>= >= 4.2.0.Final, < 4.2.16.Final, >= >= 4.1.0.Final, < 4.1.136.Final, >= 4.1.0 < 4.1.136, >= 4.2.0 < 4.2.16
Fixed versions
4.1.136, 4.2.16

Recommended response sequence

Confirm exposure before applying a vendor-supported change.

Full remediation guide
  1. 1
    Identify

    Confirm that netty and an affected version are present.

  2. 2
    Prioritize

    Combine exploitation signals with asset exposure and business criticality.

  3. 3
    Remediate

    Follow the vendor advisory or supported update path and preserve rollback options.

  4. 4
    Verify

    Recheck the version, service health, access paths, and relevant logs.

Technical data

CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
CWE
CWE-611