CVE-2014-4669 in Enterprise Maps
Summary
by MITRE
HP Enterprise Maps 1.00 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files via a WSDL document containing an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference within a GetQuote operation, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4669 affects HP Enterprise Maps version 1.00, a web-based application designed for enterprise-level mapping and visualization services. This flaw represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability that enables remote authenticated attackers to access arbitrary files on the underlying system. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the Web Services Description Language (WSDL) document processing functionality, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize external entity declarations. The attack vector requires an authenticated user with access to the application's web services interface, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where privileged access may be more readily available than in isolated scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of XML input within the GetQuote operation of the web service. When processing WSDL documents, the system does not adequately restrict external entity references, allowing malicious actors to craft XML payloads that reference external resources. The vulnerability exploits the XML parsing behavior where external entities can be loaded and processed, potentially enabling attackers to read local files on the server through entity references. This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference. The XXE vulnerability allows for both information disclosure and potential denial of service conditions, as attackers can construct malicious requests that cause the application to process unintended file content or consume excessive system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially database credentials stored on the server. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers do not require special privileges to exploit the vulnerability, though they must have valid user credentials to access the web services interface. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where user accounts may have elevated privileges or where credential compromise occurs through social engineering, password reuse, or other attack vectors. The attack can be executed through standard web service calls, making it difficult to detect in network monitoring systems that may not distinguish between legitimate and malicious XML processing requests. Organizations using HP Enterprise Maps 1.00 face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential system compromise, with the vulnerability potentially enabling further attacks such as internal network reconnaissance or lateral movement within the enterprise infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-4669 should focus on implementing proper XML input validation and sanitization within the application's web service processing layer. The most effective approach involves configuring the XML parser to disable external entity resolution and DTD processing entirely, which prevents the exploitation of XXE vulnerabilities at the parsing level. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit who can submit WSDL documents or invoke web service operations. Network-based mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious XML content patterns, though these solutions may not prevent all XXE attacks. The recommended solution involves upgrading to a patched version of HP Enterprise Maps, as the vendor would have addressed the vulnerability through proper input validation and XML parser configuration. Additionally, implementing regular security assessments and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications, as XXE vulnerabilities are common across many web services and applications. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the technique T1059.007 for XML External Entity Processing, which is categorized under the broader tactic of Execution, with potential lateral movement implications through information gathering and privilege escalation.