CVE-2013-3925 in Crowd
Summary
by MITRE
Atlassian Crowd 2.5.x before 2.5.4, 2.6.x before 2.6.3, 2.3.8, and 2.4.9 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files and send HTTP requests to intranet servers via a request to (1) /services/2 or (2) services/latest with a DTD containing an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3925 represents a critical server-side request forgery and local file inclusion flaw affecting Atlassian Crowd versions prior to specific patch releases. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of XML processing and demonstrates a classic XML external entity injection weakness that can be exploited to access sensitive system resources and perform unauthorized network operations. The affected versions include Crowd 2.5.x before 2.5.4, 2.6.x before 2.6.3, and specific patch levels 2.3.8 and 2.4.9, indicating this was a widespread issue across multiple release branches. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes requests to the /services/2 or /services/latest endpoints, which are part of the Crowd service interface designed for integration and communication purposes.
The technical exploitation mechanism leverages XML external entity declarations within Document Type Definitions to manipulate the application's XML parser behavior. Attackers can craft malicious requests containing specially formatted DTD elements that reference external entities, enabling the parser to fetch arbitrary files from the local filesystem or initiate HTTP requests to internal network resources. This dual capability creates a powerful attack vector that combines local file disclosure with potential internal network reconnaissance and exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611 as "Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to system files that should remain protected, while also enabling them to perform HTTP requests to internal services that would normally be inaccessible from external networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform lateral movement within network environments. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, database connection details, and other system information that could facilitate further attacks. The ability to send HTTP requests to internal servers means that attackers can potentially target other vulnerable systems within the same network segment, expanding the scope of their compromise. Organizations using affected Crowd versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations due to the exposure of internal system information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Crowd is used for authentication and user management services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3925 focus on immediate patching of affected versions to the recommended secure releases, which include Crowd 2.5.4, 2.6.3, 2.3.8, and 2.4.9. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to the vulnerable endpoints, particularly limiting access to internal network resources. Additional defensive measures include disabling XML external entity processing in the application's XML parser configuration, implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all XML data processing, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns. The implementation of web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all XML processing components within their applications and ensure that proper security configurations are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify potential XML external entity injection vulnerabilities across all systems and applications.