CVE-2015-8698 in Release Automation
Summary
by MITRE
CA Release Automation (formerly LISA Release Automation) 5.0.2 before 5.0.2-227, 5.5.1 before 5.5.1-1616, 5.5.2 before 5.5.2-434, and 6.1.0 before 6.1.0-1026 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files or cause a denial of service via a request containing an XML external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8698 affects CA Release Automation software across multiple version ranges, specifically impacting versions 5.0.2 before 5.0.2-227, 5.5.1 before 5.5.1-1616, 5.5.2 before 5.5.2-434, and 6.1.0 before 6.1.0-1026. This represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability that enables remote attackers to exploit the system through crafted XML requests containing external entity declarations and entity references. The flaw resides in the application's processing of XML input without proper validation or sanitization of external entity references, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access and system disruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper XML parser configuration within the CA Release Automation platform. When the system processes XML requests containing external entity declarations, it fails to restrict access to local resources or validate the legitimacy of entity references. This allows attackers to construct malicious XML payloads that reference external entities pointing to local files on the server or network resources. The vulnerability specifically leverages the XML parser's ability to resolve external entity references, which can be manipulated to read arbitrary files from the file system, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, credentials, or system information. The XXE attack vector operates through the XML parser's handling of entity references, where the parser automatically resolves and processes external entities, leading to unauthorized file access or denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Remote attackers can leverage this XXE vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities by reading local files such as configuration files, database connection strings, or system credentials stored in accessible locations. The vulnerability also enables denial of service attacks by causing the application to consume excessive resources during XML processing or by triggering parsing errors that crash the service. Organizations using affected versions of CA Release Automation face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive deployment configurations, potential credential exposure, and service disruption that could impact their release automation processes and overall operational continuity.
Security practitioners should address this vulnerability through immediate patch management initiatives, ensuring all affected versions are updated to the latest releases containing the necessary XXE mitigations. The implementation of proper XML parser configurations that disable external entity resolution and restrict access to local resources represents the primary defense mechanism. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the affected systems, while monitoring for suspicious XML traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 (Data from Information Repositories) and T1499.004 (Toggle Service) for exploitation purposes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when processing untrusted XML data, as highlighted in industry standards and security frameworks that emphasize the need for proper XML parser configuration and external entity handling.