CVE-2017-1322 in API Connect
Summary
by MITRE
IBM API Connect 5.0.6.0 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose highly sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 125918.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1322 represents a critical XML External Entity Injection flaw within IBM API Connect version 5.0.6.0, classified under CWE-611 according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. This weakness occurs when an application processes XML data without proper validation or sanitization of external entity references, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the parsing behavior of XML processors. The vulnerability specifically affects the XML processing capabilities of the API management platform, which is designed to handle various data formats including XML for configuration, integration, and data exchange purposes.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability allows remote attackers to leverage malformed XML input that contains external entity declarations pointing to internal system resources or external servers. When the vulnerable API Connect system processes such XML data, the XML parser resolves these external entities, potentially enabling attackers to access local files, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or consume excessive system resources through parameter expansion attacks. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in API management environments where systems often process untrusted data from multiple sources, making the exploitation impact significantly broader than typical XXE scenarios in other applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using IBM API Connect as their primary API management solution, as it could lead to data breaches, system resource exhaustion, and potential escalation to more severe attacks. The exposure of highly sensitive information through file disclosure attacks could compromise authentication credentials, configuration data, and business-critical information stored on the system. Memory consumption attacks could result in denial of service conditions, disrupting API services and potentially affecting downstream applications that depend on the API gateway functionality. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that API management platforms typically serve as central points of integration and data processing within enterprise environments, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking persistent access or comprehensive system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, implementing strict XML input validation and sanitization, and applying the vendor-provided security patches released for IBM API Connect 5.0.6.0. The mitigation strategy should also include network segmentation to limit access to the API management system, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious XML traffic, and conducting thorough security assessments of all XML processing components within the API ecosystem. According to ATT&CK framework category T1213.002, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving data from information repositories and information gathering, while the broader exploitation pattern fits within T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services, demonstrating how XXE vulnerabilities can serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attack campaigns.