Apache POI OOXML Vulnerable to Improper Input Validation in OOXML File Parsing

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS 4.0

6.9 · CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N · score source

EPSS

• CVE-2025-31672: 1.38% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 72.19 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Improper Input Validation vulnerability in Apache POI. The issue affects the parsing of OOXML format files like xlsx, docx and pptx. These file formats are basically zip files and it is possible for malicious users to add zip entries with duplicate names (including the path) in the zip. In this case, products reading the affected file could read different data because 1 of the zip entries with the duplicate name is selected over another but different products may choose a different zip entry. This issue affects Apache POI poi-ooxml before 5.4.0. poi-ooxml 5.4.0 has a check that throws an exception if zip entries with duplicate file names are found in the input file. Users are recommended to upgrade to version poi-ooxml 5.4.0, which fixes the issue. Please read https://poi.apache.org/security.html for recommendations about how to use the POI libraries securely.

Published by the source

9 Apr 2025, 12:30 UTC

Last modified by the source

23 May 2025, 15:31 UTC

Source last checked

26 Oct 2026, 16:36 UTC

1. Revision 1 · created · 26 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-gmg8-593g-7mv3

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2025-31672

Advisory: Apache POI OOXML Vulnerable to Improper Input Validation in OOXML File Parsing
IDs: CVE-2025-31672, GHSA-gmg8-593g-7mv3
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2025-31672 (revision 1, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 16:36 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: Medium (CVSS 6.9)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: org.apache.poi:poi-ooxml 5.4.0. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- Maven org.apache.poi:poi-ooxml: affected < 5.4.0; fixed in 5.4.0

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- Maven org.apache.poi:poi-ooxml: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on org.apache.poi:poi-ooxml.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-gmg8-593g-7mv3 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-gmg8-593g-7mv3 lists affected ranges: Maven org.apache.poi:poi-ooxml >=0 <5.4.0)

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