diff --git a/scripts/modules/rna_xml.py b/scripts/modules/rna_xml.py
index 41d3747c43d..6c30a8d8a55 100644
--- a/scripts/modules/rna_xml.py
+++ b/scripts/modules/rna_xml.py
@@ -229,14 +229,33 @@ def rna2xml(
         fw("{:s}</{:s}>\n".format(root_ident, root_node))
 
 
+# NOTE(@ideasman42): regarding `secure_types`.
+# This is a safe guard when loading an untrusted XML to prevent any possibility of the XML
+# paths "escaping" the intended data types, potentially writing into unexpected settings.
+# This is done because the XML itself defines the attributes which are recursed into,
+# there is a possibility the XML recurse into data that isn't logically owned by "root",
+# out of the theme and into user preferences for e.g. which could change trust settings
+# even executing code.
+#
+# At the time of writing it seems this is not possible with themes (the main user of this functionality),
+# however this could become possible in the future through additional RNA properties and it wouldn't be
+# obvious an exploit existed.
+#
+# In short, it's safest for users of this API to restrict types when loading untrusted XML.
+
 def xml2rna(
         root_xml, *,
         root_rna=None,  # must be set
+        secure_types=None,  # `Optional[Set[str]]`
 ):
 
     def xml2rna_node(xml_node, value):
         # print("evaluating:", xml_node.nodeName)
 
+        if (secure_types is not None) and (xml_node.nodeName not in secure_types):
+            print("Loading the XML with type restrictions, skipping \"{:s}\"".format(xml_node.nodeName))
+            return
+
         # ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         # Simple attributes
 
@@ -354,7 +373,12 @@ def _get_context_val(context, path):
     return value
 
 
-def xml_file_run(context, filepath, rna_map):
+def xml_file_run(
+        context,
+        filepath,
+        rna_map,
+        secure_types=None,  # `Optional[Set[str]]`
+):
     import xml.dom.minidom
 
     xml_nodes = xml.dom.minidom.parse(filepath)
@@ -370,7 +394,7 @@ def xml_file_run(context, filepath, rna_map):
 
         if value is not Ellipsis and value is not None:
             # print("  loading XML: {!r} -> {!r}".format(filepath, rna_path))
-            xml2rna(xml_node, root_rna=value)
+            xml2rna(xml_node, root_rna=value, secure_types=secure_types)
 
 
 def xml_file_write(context, filepath, rna_map, *, skip_typemap=None):
diff --git a/scripts/startup/bl_operators/presets.py b/scripts/startup/bl_operators/presets.py
index 013a8377092..e19c1b3f4ab 100644
--- a/scripts/startup/bl_operators/presets.py
+++ b/scripts/startup/bl_operators/presets.py
@@ -274,7 +274,10 @@ class ExecutePreset(Operator):
 
         elif ext == ".xml":
             import rna_xml
-            rna_xml.xml_file_run(context, filepath, preset_class.preset_xml_map)
+            preset_xml_map = preset_class.preset_xml_map
+            preset_xml_secure_types = getattr(preset_class, "preset_xml_secure_types", None)
+
+            rna_xml.xml_file_run(context, filepath, preset_xml_map, secure_types=preset_xml_secure_types)
 
         _call_preset_cb(getattr(preset_class, "post_cb", None), context, filepath)
 
diff --git a/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_userpref.py b/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_userpref.py
index 5c197279b50..d84bdc05f9d 100644
--- a/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_userpref.py
+++ b/scripts/startup/bl_ui/space_userpref.py
@@ -931,6 +931,43 @@ class USERPREF_MT_interface_theme_presets(Menu):
         ("preferences.themes[0]", "Theme"),
         ("preferences.ui_styles[0]", "ThemeStyle"),
     )
+    # Prevent untrusted XML files "escaping" from these types.
+    preset_xml_secure_types = {
+        "Theme",
+        "ThemeAssetShelf",
+        "ThemeBoneColorSet",
+        "ThemeClipEditor",
+        "ThemeCollectionColor",
+        "ThemeConsole",
+        "ThemeDopeSheet",
+        "ThemeFileBrowser",
+        "ThemeFontStyle",
+        "ThemeGradientColors",
+        "ThemeGraphEditor",
+        "ThemeImageEditor",
+        "ThemeInfo",
+        "ThemeNLAEditor",
+        "ThemeNodeEditor",
+        "ThemeOutliner",
+        "ThemePanelColors",
+        "ThemePreferences",
+        "ThemeProperties",
+        "ThemeSequenceEditor",
+        "ThemeSpaceGeneric",
+        "ThemeSpaceGradient",
+        "ThemeSpaceListGeneric",
+        "ThemeSpreadsheet",
+        "ThemeStatusBar",
+        "ThemeStripColor",
+        "ThemeStyle",
+        "ThemeTextEditor",
+        "ThemeTopBar",
+        "ThemeUserInterface",
+        "ThemeView3D",
+        "ThemeWidgetColors",
+        "ThemeWidgetStateColors",
+    }
+
     draw = Menu.draw_preset
 
     @staticmethod