CVE-2014-0644 in Cloud Tiering Appliance Software
Summary
by MITRE
EMC Cloud Tiering Appliance (CTA) 10 through SP1 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via an api/login request containing an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue, as demonstrated by reading the /etc/shadow file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2026
The EMC Cloud Tiering Appliance CTA version 10 through SP1 contains a critical XML External Entity vulnerability that enables remote attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying system. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the api/login endpoint, which processes XML requests without adequate sanitization of external entity declarations. The flaw specifically manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious XML payload that includes an external entity declaration followed by an entity reference, allowing the system to resolve and include external resources during XML parsing operations.
This XXE vulnerability operates at the core of XML processing mechanisms where the application fails to properly restrict external entity resolution, creating an attack surface that permits unauthorized file access. The exploitation technique demonstrates how an attacker can leverage the XML parser's behavior to retrieve sensitive system files such as /etc/shadow, which contains critical user authentication information including password hashes. The vulnerability exists because the appliance does not implement proper XML security configurations that would prevent the resolution of external entities during parsing operations, making it susceptible to information disclosure attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract not only /etc/shadow but potentially other system files containing configuration data, user credentials, or application-specific information. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or local system privileges to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for networked environments where the appliance may be exposed to untrusted networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, and represents a classic XXE attack vector that has been documented extensively in security literature. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment and T1083 - File and Directory Discovery, as it enables both initial access through the API endpoint and subsequent reconnaissance of system files. Organizations using this appliance should implement immediate mitigations including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, implementing proper input validation, and restricting API access to trusted networks only. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of API traffic can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure XML processing in enterprise applications and highlights how seemingly simple parsing operations can create significant security risks. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all XML processing components within their infrastructure, implementing security controls such as XML schema validation, proper error handling, and regular security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.