CVE-2015-7461 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE
XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in IBM Connections 3.0.1.1 and earlier, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 before CR4 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via crafted XML data. IBM X-Force ID: 108357.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2021
The CVE-2015-7461 vulnerability represents a critical XML external entity processing flaw within IBM Connections software versions 3.0.1.1 and earlier, as well as 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 before cumulative release 4. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 category of Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications that process XML data. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to exploit the system by submitting specially crafted XML content that triggers excessive memory consumption, ultimately leading to denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the IBM Connections platform processes XML input without proper validation or restriction of external entity references. When an attacker submits malicious XML data containing external entity declarations, the system attempts to resolve these references, potentially causing exponential memory growth or resource exhaustion. This processing behavior creates a memory consumption pattern that can be leveraged to overwhelm system resources and render the application unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability specifically affects the XML parsing functionality within the IBM Connections platform, which is used for various data exchange operations including user profile management, content sharing, and collaboration features.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on IBM Connections for enterprise collaboration. The denial of service impact can severely disrupt business operations, particularly in environments where the platform serves as a critical communication and document sharing infrastructure. Authentication requirements provide some mitigation but do not eliminate the threat entirely since authorized users with malicious intent can still exploit the vulnerability. The attack vector requires the attacker to have valid credentials, making this a privilege escalation or insider threat scenario rather than an open exploit. However, the potential for widespread disruption remains high, especially in large organizations where IBM Connections serves as a central collaboration platform.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates released to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing XML parsing restrictions at the application level, disabling external entity processing, and monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns. Network-level controls such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to resource exhaustion attacks. Additionally, organizations should review their access control policies and implement least privilege principles to minimize the potential impact of authenticated attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems within the enterprise environment.