CVE-2016-0319 in Jazz Reporting Service
Summary
by MITRE
The XML parser in Lifecycle Query Engine (LQE) in IBM Jazz Reporting Service 6.0 and 6.0.1 before 6.0.1 iFix006 allows remote authenticated administrators to read arbitrary files or cause a denial of service via an XML document containing an 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 • 06/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0319 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within the Lifecycle Query Engine (LQE) component of IBM Jazz Reporting Service. This issue affects versions 6.0 and 6.0.1 prior to iFix006, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this reporting platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the XML parsing mechanism, which fails to properly sanitize external entity declarations that may be embedded within XML documents processed by the system. The flaw specifically manifests when the XML parser encounters external entity declarations combined with entity references, enabling malicious actors to exploit this weakness through crafted XML payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental characteristics of XXE attacks as categorized under CWE-611, where an application processes XML data without adequate protection against external entity references. When authenticated administrators submit malicious XML documents containing external entity declarations, the parser attempts to resolve these references, potentially leading to unauthorized file access or system resource exhaustion. The attack vector requires only authentication privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised administrator accounts. This vulnerability directly relates to the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves the exploitation of XML external entity vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can result in complete system compromise or denial of service conditions. Remote authenticated administrators can leverage this weakness to access sensitive files on the server, potentially including configuration data, user credentials, or other confidential information stored within the system's file structure. Additionally, the vulnerability can be weaponized to cause denial of service by consuming excessive system resources through malformed entity references that trigger resource exhaustion. Organizations using IBM Jazz Reporting Service in production environments face significant risk of data breaches or service disruption, particularly in scenarios where administrator accounts may be compromised or where insider threats exist.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0319 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor-provided iFix006 patch, which specifically addresses the XXE vulnerability in the LQE component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the affected system, ensuring that only authorized administrator accounts can submit XML content to the reporting service. Additional protective measures include disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, implementing strict input validation for all XML submissions, and monitoring for suspicious XML processing activities. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that may be exposed to similar XXE vulnerabilities, particularly those using XML processing libraries that may be susceptible to similar attacks. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.