CVE-2014-2055 in SabreDAV
Summary
by MITRE
SabreDAV before 1.7.11, as used in ownCloud Server before 5.0.15 and 6.0.x before 6.0.2, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files, cause a denial of service, or possibly have other impact via an XML External Entity (XXE) attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2055 represents a critical XML External Entity processing flaw affecting SabreDAV library versions prior to 1.7.11. This issue specifically impacts ownCloud Server installations before version 5.0.15 and 6.0.x before 6.0.2, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these versions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the XML parsing mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted XML requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of XML external entities during data processing within the SabreDAV framework. When the system processes XML input containing external entity references, it fails to properly sanitize or restrict these references, enabling attackers to manipulate the parsing behavior. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, making it a well-documented and recognized weakness in web application security. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary file access through the exploitation of XXE attack vectors, where attackers can reference local files on the server through XML entity declarations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling remote attackers to cause denial of service conditions and access sensitive system resources. Attackers can leverage this flaw to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem, potentially accessing configuration files, user data, or system credentials. The denial of service component can be achieved by consuming excessive system resources through malformed XML processing, while the broader impact includes potential privilege escalation or data corruption depending on the specific implementation and system configuration. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories and T1499.004 for Endpoint Denial of Service, demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of the threat.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2055 require immediate patching of affected SabreDAV components and ownCloud server installations to versions that properly handle XML external entity processing. Organizations should implement XML parser configuration changes that disable external entity resolution entirely, particularly for the XML processing libraries used by their applications. Network-level protections including firewall rules and web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious XML traffic patterns. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems using affected SabreDAV versions, and implement proper input validation mechanisms that sanitize all XML content before processing. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, while access controls should be reviewed to minimize potential damage from successful attacks. The remediation process should also include security awareness training for administrators to recognize and respond to XXE attack patterns, ensuring comprehensive protection against this class of vulnerability.