CVE-2012-1472 in vCenter
Summary
by MITRE
VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager (aka CBM) before 2.0.1 does not properly handle XML API requests, which allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1472 affects VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager version 2.0.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the XML API request handling mechanism. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the Chargeback Manager component, which is designed to provide cost allocation and chargeback reporting for virtualized environments. The vulnerability exists within the application's API interface that processes XML formatted requests, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by remote threat actors without authentication requirements.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the improper handling of XML API requests where the system fails to adequately validate or sanitize incoming XML data structures. This deficiency allows attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can manipulate the application's file system access controls or trigger resource exhaustion conditions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data exposure as it can enable arbitrary file reads through XML external entity (XXE) injection techniques or cause denial of service through malformed XML processing. The unspecified vectors indicate that the attack surface encompasses multiple exploitation pathways including both information disclosure and availability compromise scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager as it enables remote attackers to access sensitive configuration files, log data, and potentially system credentials stored within the application's file system. The ability to perform arbitrary file reads can lead to privilege escalation and further compromise of the underlying virtual infrastructure. Additionally, the denial of service capability can disrupt chargeback reporting processes and impact business continuity, particularly in environments where financial reporting and cost allocation are critical operations. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the chargeback management system, potentially causing cascading effects on financial tracking and resource allocation decisions.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager version 2.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XML API handling vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the Chargeback Manager API endpoints, particularly limiting access to trusted administrative networks only. Input validation controls should be enhanced at the application level to ensure all XML requests undergo rigorous sanitization and validation before processing. Security monitoring should be enabled to detect unusual API access patterns or malformed XML requests that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, emphasizing the need for robust API security controls and proper XML processing validation to prevent both information disclosure and denial of service conditions in virtualized environments.