CVE-2014-3005 in Zabbix
Summary
by MITRE
XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in Zabbix 1.8.x before 1.8.21rc1, 2.0.x before 2.0.13rc1, 2.2.x before 2.2.5rc1, and 2.3.x before 2.3.2 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or potentially execute arbitrary code via a crafted DTD in an XML request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2021
The CVE-2014-3005 vulnerability represents a critical XML external entity processing flaw that affected multiple versions of the Zabbix monitoring platform. This vulnerability resides in the XML parsing functionality of Zabbix server components, specifically within the XML request handling mechanisms that process configuration data and monitoring information. The issue manifests when the system processes XML content containing external entity references, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted XML requests. The vulnerability affects Zabbix versions 1.8.x prior to 2.0.13rc1, 2.0.x prior to 2.0.13rc1, 2.2.x prior to 2.2.5rc1, and 2.3.x prior to 2.3.2, indicating a widespread impact across the platform's major release lines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through XML external entity processing, where an attacker crafts a malicious XML document containing a Document Type Definition (DTD) with external entity references. When the vulnerable Zabbix system processes this XML content, it resolves external entities and can potentially read arbitrary files from the server's filesystem or execute arbitrary code on the target system. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-611, which describes improper restriction of XML external entity reference, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories. The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to system resources through the XML processing pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides remote attackers with potential access to sensitive monitoring data, system configuration files, and underlying server resources. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract database credentials, configuration files containing sensitive information, or system files that might reveal network topology and security configurations. The potential for arbitrary code execution adds an additional layer of risk, enabling attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware on the compromised system. Organizations using affected Zabbix versions face significant exposure to data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor patches released for Zabbix versions 1.8.21rc1, 2.0.13rc1, 2.2.5rc1, and 2.3.2, which address the XML external entity processing vulnerability. System administrators should also configure XML parsers to disable external entity resolution and DTD processing, implement network segmentation to limit access to Zabbix servers, and monitor for suspicious XML requests in system logs. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious XML content, implementing strict input validation for all XML processing components, and conducting regular security assessments to identify other potential XXE vulnerabilities in related systems. The remediation process should follow industry best practices for vulnerability management and include thorough testing of patches in staging environments before production deployment.