CVE-2014-3490 in Communications Performance Intelligence Center (PIC) Software
Summary
by MITRE
RESTEasy 2.3.1 before 2.3.8.SP2 and 3.x before 3.0.9, as used in Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (EAP) 6.3.0, does not disable external entities when the resteasy.document.expand.entity.references parameter is set to false, which allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files and have other unspecified impact via unspecified vectors, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-0818.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3490 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw in RESTEasy, a popular Java-based REST framework that forms a core component of Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform. This issue affects versions 2.3.1 through 2.3.8.SP1 and 3.0.0 through 3.0.8 of RESTEasy, specifically impacting JBoss EAP 6.3.0 installations. The vulnerability stems from an incomplete remediation of a previously identified XXE issue, CVE-2012-0818, which demonstrates how security fixes can sometimes be insufficient or improperly implemented. The flaw manifests when the resteasy.document.expand.entity.references parameter is configured to false, yet the system continues to process external entities, creating a dangerous bypass mechanism that allows unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the improper handling of XML parsing within the RESTEasy framework, where external entity references are not effectively disabled even when the configuration parameter suggests they should be. This creates a scenario where remote attackers can craft malicious XML requests that reference external entities, potentially allowing them to access local files, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or execute other malicious operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the XML parsing layer, which is fundamental to how many web services process data, making it a vector for widespread exploitation across applications that rely on RESTEasy for data handling. The XXE vulnerability falls under CWE-611, which specifically addresses improper restriction of XML external entity references, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, as attackers can extract sensitive data through these malformed XML requests.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3490 extends far beyond simple file access, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance, escalate privileges, or conduct more sophisticated attacks such as internal network scanning or data exfiltration. In environments where JBoss EAP is used for enterprise web services, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to read system files, access database credentials, or even gain insights into internal network structures. The fact that this vulnerability exists due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2012-0818 highlights the importance of thorough security testing and validation of security patches, as partial remediations can leave systems vulnerable to exploitation. Organizations running affected versions of RESTEasy and JBoss EAP face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential system compromise, particularly in environments where sensitive data is processed through RESTful web services. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal sophistication and can be automated, making it a particularly dangerous threat for organizations that have not yet applied the necessary security updates.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2014-3490 include immediate upgrade to RESTEasy versions 2.3.8.SP2 or 3.0.9 and later, which contain proper XXE protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement proper XML parsing configuration settings that explicitly disable external entity processing and external DTD references, ensuring that the resteasy.document.expand.entity.references parameter is properly enforced. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to RESTEasy endpoints, while application-level input validation should be strengthened to prevent malicious XML data from reaching the parsing layer. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual XML parsing patterns or unauthorized file access attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of comprehensive security testing, particularly for configuration-based security controls, and demonstrates how seemingly simple parameter settings can have profound security implications when not properly enforced. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213 for data from information repositories and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, emphasizing both the data extraction and potential privilege escalation aspects of this flaw.