CVE-2011-1483 in Network Node Manager I
Summary
by MITRE
wsf/common/DOMUtils.java in JBossWS Native in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 4.2.0.CP09, 4.3, and 5.1.1; JBoss Enterprise Portal Platform 4.3.CP06 and 5.1.1; JBoss Enterprise SOA Platform 4.2.CP05, 4.3.CP05, and 5.1.0; JBoss Communications Platform 1.2.11 and 5.1.1; JBoss Enterprise BRMS Platform 5.1.0; and JBoss Enterprise Web Platform 5.1.1 does not properly handle recursion during entity expansion, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory and CPU consumption) via a crafted request containing an XML document with a DOCTYPE declaration and a large number of nested entity references, a similar issue to CVE-2003-1564.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-1483 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting multiple JBoss platforms including the Enterprise Application Platform, Portal Platform, SOA Platform, Communications Platform, BRMS Platform, and Web Platform. This issue stems from improper handling of XML entity expansion recursion within the wsf/common/DOMUtils.java component of JBossWS Native implementation. The vulnerability specifically targets the processing of XML documents containing DOCTYPE declarations with excessive nested entity references, creating a condition where the system becomes vulnerable to resource exhaustion attacks. The flaw operates by allowing remote attackers to craft malicious XML requests that trigger recursive entity expansion, leading to exponential memory and CPU consumption patterns that ultimately result in system unresponsiveness or complete denial of service.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes it as an Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerability. The flaw exploits the XML parsing mechanism's failure to implement proper recursion limits or depth checking during entity expansion processes. When a malicious XML document containing a DOCTYPE declaration with numerous nested entity references is processed, the system attempts to resolve each entity reference recursively, leading to a massive increase in memory allocation and processing overhead. This recursive expansion continues until system resources are exhausted, effectively creating a resource exhaustion attack vector that can be triggered remotely without authentication. The vulnerability's similarity to CVE-2003-1564 indicates this is a well-established class of XML parsing vulnerabilities that have persisted across multiple versions and platforms, demonstrating the ongoing challenges in implementing robust XML security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1483 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential business continuity risks and system stability concerns. Organizations utilizing affected JBoss platforms face significant exposure to denial of service attacks that can render their applications unavailable to legitimate users, potentially affecting critical business processes and customer interactions. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can initiate attacks from anywhere on the network without requiring local access or credentials, making it particularly dangerous in production environments. The exponential resource consumption pattern typical of this vulnerability means that even relatively small malicious requests can cause substantial system impact, potentially leading to cascading failures in larger enterprise architectures where multiple services depend on the affected platforms. Furthermore, the vulnerability affects multiple JBoss product lines simultaneously, suggesting that organizations may need to implement coordinated patching strategies across their entire technology stack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1483 should prioritize immediate patch application from Red Hat, as this represents the most effective defense against the vulnerability. Organizations should also implement XML parsing restrictions and resource limits on incoming requests to prevent excessive entity expansion, particularly by configuring XML parsers to enforce maximum entity expansion depths and memory limits. Network-level controls such as firewalls and application firewalls can be configured to monitor and restrict XML content processing, while intrusion detection systems should be tuned to identify patterns associated with XML entity expansion attacks. The implementation of XML security policies that limit the complexity and size of incoming XML documents provides additional defense layers, and organizations should consider implementing rate limiting and request monitoring to detect anomalous patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to ensure that XML processing components remain secure against similar threats, while maintaining awareness of related vulnerabilities in the broader XML processing ecosystem that may present similar attack vectors.