CVE-2014-3087 in Business Process Manager
Summary
by MITRE
callService.do in IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) 7.5 through 8.5.5 and WebSphere Lombardi Edition 7.2 through 7.2.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3087 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within IBM Business Process Manager BPM versions 7.5 through 8.5.5 and WebSphere Lombardi Edition 7.2 through 7.2.0.5. This security weakness resides in the callService.do component which processes XML requests, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's XML parser configuration. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize XML input, allowing attackers to manipulate the parsing process through carefully crafted XML documents containing external entity declarations.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated attack vector that combines XML external entity declarations with entity references. When an authenticated user submits malicious XML content to the vulnerable callService.do endpoint, the system's XML parser processes the external entity declarations, potentially allowing access to local files on the server filesystem. This occurs because the application's XML processing configuration does not adequately restrict access to external resources, enabling attackers to traverse the file system and potentially access sensitive data, configuration files, or system resources that should remain protected. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611 as an Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, which directly maps to the XXE attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform reconnaissance on the underlying system infrastructure. Remote authenticated users can leverage this weakness to access arbitrary files on the server, potentially obtaining sensitive information such as database connection strings, application configuration files, or other privileged data. The attack requires only authentication to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by compromised accounts or insiders with legitimate access. The vulnerability affects organizations running IBM BPM products in production environments, potentially exposing critical business processes and sensitive enterprise data to unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3087 must address both the immediate configuration issues and implement broader security controls. Organizations should disable external entity processing in XML parsers by configuring appropriate parser settings that prevent loading of external entities, which aligns with the remediation guidance provided in the OWASP XXE Prevention Cheat Sheet. The most effective immediate fix involves updating the XML parser configuration to reject external entity declarations and references, ensuring that the callService.do endpoint properly validates all incoming XML content. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures, along with network segmentation and access controls, can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates that address this specific XXE vulnerability, while maintaining comprehensive monitoring of XML processing activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that legitimate XML functionality remains intact while eliminating the security risk associated with external entity processing.