CVE-2015-3192 in JBoss BPM Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Pivotal Spring Framework before 3.2.14 and 4.x before 4.1.7 do not properly process inline DTD declarations when DTD is not entirely disabled, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and out-of-memory errors) via a crafted XML file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3192 represents a critical denial of service weakness in the Pivotal Spring Framework affecting versions prior to 3.2.14 and 4.x before 4.1.7. This flaw resides in the framework's XML processing capabilities and specifically targets how the system handles inline Document Type Definition declarations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through carefully crafted XML files that trigger excessive memory consumption, ultimately leading to out-of-memory errors and system crashes.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of XML external entity processing within the Spring Framework's XML parsing mechanisms. When the framework encounters XML documents containing inline DTD declarations, it fails to adequately restrict or sanitize these elements, allowing attackers to construct malicious XML payloads that cause the parser to consume excessive system resources. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes the vulnerability as a resource exhaustion issue, specifically manifesting as memory consumption problems. The flaw essentially enables an attacker to perform a form of XML external entity attack that is particularly effective against the Spring Framework's XML processing stack.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3192 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire application availability. Systems utilizing affected Spring Framework versions become vulnerable to memory exhaustion attacks that can be executed with minimal privileges and significant damage. Attackers can craft XML documents that, when processed by the vulnerable framework, cause the application server to consume increasing amounts of memory until system resources are exhausted. This creates a denial of service condition that affects not only the targeted application but potentially the entire server hosting multiple applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications where XML processing is common and input validation may be insufficient.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3192 primarily focus on upgrading to patched versions of the Pivotal Spring Framework, specifically versions 3.2.14 and 4.1.7 or later. Organizations should also implement strict XML input validation and consider disabling DTD processing entirely within their applications when possible. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for resource exhaustion, making it particularly relevant for defensive security teams to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing XML parsing restrictions, monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns, and ensuring that all XML processing components within the application stack are properly configured to reject potentially malicious content. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls to restrict XML processing capabilities where possible, and conduct thorough testing of patched applications to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing regressions in functionality.