CVE-2015-8549: XML External Entity (XXE) Vulnerability in PyAMF

pyamf Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

15/01/2020
Yes i
High
7.1

CVE-2015-8549: XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in PyAMF before 0.8.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or read arbitrary files via a crafted Action Message Format (AMF) payload. Affects pyamf versions < 0.8.0. Fixed in 0.8.0. How to fix ↓

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Background

PyAMF is a Python library that allows for the encoding and decoding of Action Message Format (AMF) data. It is commonly used in web applications to facilitate communication between the client and server. However, PyAMF versions prior to 0.8.0 are vulnerable to an XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability. This vulnerability can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service or read arbitrary files by sending a specially crafted AMF payload.

Vulnerability Detail

The XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in PyAMF allows an attacker to exploit the XML parsing functionality of the library. By including malicious external entities in the AMF payload, an attacker can trigger the parsing of arbitrary files on the server or cause the server to make requests to external resources. This can lead to a denial of service by consuming excessive resources or the disclosure of sensitive information if the parsed files contain sensitive data.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

0.8.0

This is the first release that contains the fix.

pip install --upgrade "pyamf==0.8.0"

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Conclusion

The XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in PyAMF versions prior to 0.8.0 can be exploited by remote attackers to cause a denial of service or read arbitrary files. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is crucial to upgrade to PyAMF version 0.8.0 or later. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

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FAQ

PyAMF is a Python library used for encoding and decoding Action Message Format (AMF) data. It is commonly used in web applications to facilitate communication between the client and server.

An XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability is a type of attack that exploits the XML parsing functionality of an application. By including malicious external entities in the XML input, an attacker can trigger the parsing of arbitrary files or make requests to external resources.

The potential consequences of this vulnerability include a denial of service by consuming excessive resources and the disclosure of sensitive information if the parsed files contain sensitive data.

To fix this vulnerability, you should upgrade to PyAMF version 0.8.0 or later. This version includes a fix for the XXE vulnerability. You can update PyAMF by running the command 'pip install --upgrade pyamf'.

No, there is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to upgrade to the fixed version of PyAMF.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

0.8.0

This is the first release that contains the fix.

pip install --upgrade "pyamf==0.8.0"

Tip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →

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