CVE-2014-5035 in OpenDaylight
Summary
by MITRE
The Netconf (TCP) service in OpenDaylight 1.0 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference in an XML-RPC message, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5035 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within the Netconf TCP service of OpenDaylight version 1.0. This issue arises from the service's insufficient validation of XML input, specifically when processing XML-RPC messages that contain external entity declarations. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to exploit the system by crafting malicious XML payloads that reference external entities, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive files on the underlying system. The flaw exists in the XML parsing mechanism that fails to properly sanitize or restrict external entity references, creating an avenue for information disclosure attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the service's failure to implement proper XML security controls during message processing. When the Netconf service receives an XML-RPC message containing an XML external entity declaration, it processes the entity reference without adequate validation, allowing the system to resolve and potentially read arbitrary files from the local filesystem. This behavior aligns with CWE-611, which categorizes insecure direct object references, and specifically relates to CWE-495, which addresses the use of XML external entities in applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, leveraging the inherent weaknesses in XML parsing libraries that do not properly restrict access to external resources during document processing.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security risks to organizations utilizing OpenDaylight 1.0 for network configuration management. Remote attackers can potentially access sensitive configuration files, system credentials, or other confidential data stored on the same filesystem as the Netconf service. The attack vector requires only network connectivity to the affected service, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from any location without requiring physical access or prior authentication. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of network management operations, potentially enabling attackers to gain deeper insights into network infrastructure or even facilitate further attacks through the acquisition of sensitive configuration information. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of remote services for initial access, and T1071, which addresses application layer protocols for command and control communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5035 should focus on implementing proper XML parsing security controls within the OpenDaylight service. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of OpenDaylight that addresses the XXE vulnerability, as version 1.0 is no longer supported and contains multiple known security issues. The implementation of XML parser configurations that disable external entity processing and DTD (Document Type Definition) loading should be enforced. Security controls should include the configuration of XML parsers to reject any XML input containing external entity declarations, particularly those referencing file:// or http:// protocols. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the Netconf service to trusted networks only. Additionally, regular security assessments and input validation should be performed to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the network management infrastructure. The remediation process should also include monitoring for suspicious XML-RPC traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's methodology for detecting and preventing such attacks.