Title: Import XML Function Issue
Last modified: April 26, 2019

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# Import XML Function Issue

 *  Resolved [Bryan Willis](https://wordpress.org/support/users/codecandid/)
 * (@codecandid)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-xml-function-issue/)
 * Several hosts don’t support the the XML import function used by Formidable because
   apparently it is a security risk.
 * `libxml_disable_entity_loader`
 * I use the Premium Paid Version as well as the Free version on several different
   websites of mine. I have some very complex and lengthy forms and views I’ve built
   that I would build first on my own testing site before moving them over to another
   site. Unfortunately, since it’s not possible to import on a lot of hosts using
   this function, I might have to start from scratch on a lot of forms which I really
   would like to avoid 🙂
 * Do you know any easy workaround for this? Some options I’ve thought might work:
   –
   Bypass the function with `libxml_disable_entity_loader(false)`. Unfortunately,
   this didn’t work. – Login to Database and copy relevant table data to other database.
   Will this work? If so, what is the table called? – The function apparently is
   for external imports. Is there a way to import if I copy the XML file to the 
   web server?
 * Also, aside from my own self interest in the matter, I wanted to post to at least
   make sure you are aware of this “potential” security risk. Two hosts that I know
   block this function are Kinsta and WPMUDev.
 * Anyway, thanks for any help or suggestions! Other than this one issue I’ve had
   this really has been an awesome plugin and way easier to style than Gravity Forms
   was.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [formidablematthew](https://wordpress.org/support/users/formidablematthew/)
 * (@formidablematthew)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-xml-function-issue/#post-11470830)
 * Hi Bryan,
 * I did some research on this and couldn’t find anything about kinsta blocking 
   XML imports, but WMPUDev stated that this function is completely safe to whitelist
   in a support topic here, also referring to Formidable Forms: [https://premium.wpmudev.org/forums/topic/xml-import-is-not-enabled-on-wpmu-host](https://premium.wpmudev.org/forums/topic/xml-import-is-not-enabled-on-wpmu-host)
 * Our suggestion is to contact your hosts to get that function whitelisted so you
   can import forms.
 *  Plugin Author [Steve Wells](https://wordpress.org/support/users/srwells/)
 * (@srwells)
 * [7 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-xml-function-issue/#post-11471446)
 * Hi Bryan,
    I reached out to the folks at Kinsta, and they confirmed that xml 
   uploads are not blocked in any of their configurations.
 *  Thread Starter [Bryan Willis](https://wordpress.org/support/users/codecandid/)
 * (@codecandid)
 * [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-xml-function-issue/#post-11521024)
 * Hey thanks for reaching out. Sorry for late follow-up I forgot to follow this
   thread.
 * I had also come across that article on WPMUDev, but upon further review I noticed
   that it seems XML is still blocked, so I’m not sure if they ended up deciding
   it was a risk or they just haven’t updated their docs.
 * [https://premium.wpmudev.org/docs/hosting/sftp-ssh/#chapter-disabled-functions-php-ini](https://premium.wpmudev.org/docs/hosting/sftp-ssh/#chapter-disabled-functions-php-ini)
 * Also, Kinsta originally told me the same thing about not blocking XML, but after
   I asked them to look into it more closely they confirmed that this function was
   set and blocking XML import.
 * `libxml_disable_entity_loader(true)`
 * Here’s what they said as to why…
 * “It looks like it can cause a security issue if another script changes the secure
   connection setting to false/disabled.”
 * I can confirm that Kinsta, at least, will enable this on an individual basis 
   and did so for me. However, they said that when the PHP updates to a newer version
   it will revert the change and to reach out again if I need to.
 * Anyway, I guess if any other users run into this problem with Kinsta, just let
   them know to reach out to Kinsta and they will bypass this on request for now.
   Personally, I’m going to have them enable the block again once I upload my backups,
   just to be on the safe site.
 * After doing a little more research, it looks like the possible security risk 
   is **XML eXternal Entity (XXE)** attack. Here’s a really good writeup about it
   here: [https://gardienvirtuel.ca/fr/actualites/from-xml-to-rce.php](https://gardienvirtuel.ca/fr/actualites/from-xml-to-rce.php)
 * Anyway, thanks for support and hope this information helps. Let me know if you
   have any questions!
 *  Plugin Author [Steve Wells](https://wordpress.org/support/users/srwells/)
 * (@srwells)
 * [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-xml-function-issue/#post-11526871)
 * Thanks for the update! We’ll pass that along to any others who might be running
   into this issue on Kinsta.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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## Tags

 * [php](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/php/)

 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Steve Wells](https://wordpress.org/support/users/srwells/)
 * Last activity: [7 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/import-xml-function-issue/#post-11526871)
 * Status: resolved