diff --git a/libmat2/office.py b/libmat2/office.py
index 14621d417ae33d1ffc6a85168fdecc1900b01d54..0d0c7958e1879c682ac0f640b85b5addc63ba2f9 100644
--- a/libmat2/office.py
+++ b/libmat2/office.py
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@ import shutil
 import tempfile
 import datetime
 import zipfile
-import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 from typing import Dict, Set, Pattern
+try:  # protect against DoS
+    from defusedxml import ElementTree as ET
+except ImportError:
+    import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 
 
 from . import abstract, parser_factory