CVE-2016-6059 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM InfoSphere Information Server is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) error when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose highly sensitive information or consume all available memory resources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2020
IBM InfoSphere Information Server version 9.1 and earlier contains a critical vulnerability that stems from improper handling of XML data structures during processing operations. This vulnerability manifests as an XML External Entity Injection flaw that allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's XML parser behavior. The flaw occurs when the system fails to properly validate or sanitize XML input before parsing, creating an avenue for malicious entities to inject external references that can be resolved by the application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611 as an Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, which represents a well-documented attack vector that has been prevalent in enterprise applications for many years. This specific implementation issue directly enables attackers to leverage the XML parser's capabilities to access local system resources or initiate resource exhaustion attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential information disclosure risks that could expose sensitive organizational data. When exploited, the XXE injection allows attackers to reference external entities that can cause the application to retrieve and process data from internal network resources, potentially exposing file system contents, database connection details, or other confidential information. The memory consumption aspect of this vulnerability represents a particularly dangerous exploitation vector as it can lead to complete system unavailability through resource exhaustion attacks. Attackers can craft malicious XML payloads that cause the application to consume excessive memory resources, leading to system crashes or denial of service conditions that can persist for extended periods. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which describes network denial of service attacks, and specifically targets the application layer of the OSI model where the vulnerability exists.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of the broader category of XML parsing vulnerabilities that have been consistently identified in enterprise software applications. The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication to exploit, making it a high-risk target for automated scanning tools and malicious actors seeking to disrupt business operations. Organizations utilizing IBM InfoSphere Information Server should immediately implement mitigations including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, implementing strict input validation for all XML data processing, and configuring appropriate network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates how legacy applications can contain fundamental security flaws that persist across multiple versions, emphasizing the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of XML processing activities can help detect exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for security incident response efforts.