CVE-2013-4152 in Spring Framework
Summary
by MITRE
The Spring OXM wrapper in Spring Framework before 3.2.4 and 4.0.0.M1, when using the JAXB marshaller, does not disable entity resolution, which allows context-dependent attackers to read arbitrary files, cause a denial of service, and conduct CSRF attacks via an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference in a (1) DOMSource, (2) StAXSource, (3) SAXSource, or (4) StreamSource, aka an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4152 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within the Spring Framework's Object-XML Mapping (OXM) module. This security weakness affects versions prior to 3.2.4 and 4.0.0.M1, specifically when utilizing the JAXB marshaller component. The issue stems from the Spring OXM wrapper's failure to properly disable entity resolution during XML processing operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted XML payloads. The vulnerability manifests across multiple XML source types including DOMSource, StAXSource, SAXSource, and StreamSource, demonstrating the widespread nature of the flaw within the framework's XML handling capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper configuration of XML parser settings within the Spring Framework's OXM module. When the JAXB marshaller processes XML documents without disabling external entity resolution, it becomes susceptible to XXE attacks where attackers can reference external entities that point to local files on the server. This misconfiguration allows context-dependent attackers to perform unauthorized file access operations, potentially exposing sensitive system information, configuration files, or database credentials. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to include denial of service conditions, as malformed entity references can cause parsers to consume excessive system resources or enter infinite loops. Additionally, the flaw enables cross-site request forgery attacks by allowing attackers to construct malicious XML documents that can be processed within the application context, potentially executing unauthorized operations on behalf of legitimate users.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing Spring Framework applications that process external XML data. The attack surface is particularly concerning because XML processing is common in web services, API integrations, and data import operations where external data sources are frequently encountered. The context-dependent nature of the attack means that successful exploitation requires the attacker to have some level of control over the XML input being processed by the vulnerable application. However, the ease with which this vulnerability can be exploited through standard XXE attack patterns makes it particularly dangerous in environments where XML data is processed from untrusted sources without proper input validation or sanitization. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 (Data from Information Repositories) and T1499.004 (Endpoint Denial of Service) within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, demonstrating both information disclosure and denial of service capabilities.
Organizations affected by CVE-2013-4152 should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to Spring Framework versions 3.2.4 or 4.0.0.M1 where the vulnerability has been addressed. The recommended mitigation strategy involves ensuring that all XML processing components within the application disable external entity resolution and DTD (Document Type Definition) parsing. Security teams should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization procedures for all XML data sources, particularly those originating from external systems. Additional protective measures include deploying XML parsers with strict security configurations, implementing network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable applications, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous XML processing patterns. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure XML processing practices and the necessity of keeping framework components up to date with security patches to prevent exploitation of well-known attack vectors.