CVE-2013-5490 in Prime Data Center Network Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Prime Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) before 6.2(1) allows remote attackers to read arbitrary text files via an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue, aka Bug ID CSCud80148.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5490 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within Cisco Prime Data Center Network Manager DCNM version 6.1.1 and earlier. This security weakness stems from the application's improper handling of XML input, specifically when processing XML documents that contain external entity declarations. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit this flaw by crafting malicious XML requests that include external entity references, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive files on the underlying system. The XXE vulnerability occurs when the application processes XML data without adequate validation or sanitization of external entity declarations, creating a pathway for attackers to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of XML parsing behavior within the DCNM application. When the system receives XML input containing external entity declarations such as <!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM "file:///etc/passwd"> followed by references to these entities within the XML structure, the parser will resolve these external references and return the contents of the specified files. This flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited to access system files, configuration data, and potentially sensitive information that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611 as an Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, which is a well-documented weakness in XML processing implementations that has been consistently identified across numerous applications and systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical system resources that could facilitate further exploitation. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to read system configuration files, user credentials, database connection details, or other sensitive data that might be stored in accessible locations. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access or physical proximity to the target network, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where network managers are accessible over the internet or through unsecured network connections. This vulnerability effectively undermines the security posture of organizations relying on Cisco Prime DCNM for network management, as it allows unauthorized data access that could lead to more severe compromise scenarios.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Cisco Prime DCNM version 6.2(1) or later, which contains patches addressing this XXE vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the DCNM application to untrusted networks, while implementing proper XML input validation and sanitization measures. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual XML processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the techniques related to XML external entity processing and information gathering phases of attack. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other applications within their environment that may be susceptible to similar XXE vulnerabilities, as this flaw is commonly found in systems that process untrusted XML data without proper security controls.