CVE-2017-14759 in Document Sciences xPression
Summary
by MITRE
OpenText Document Sciences xPression (formerly EMC Document Sciences xPression) v4.5SP1 Patch 13 (older versions might be affected as well) is prone to an XML External Entity vulnerability: /xFramework/services/QuickDoc.QuickDocHttpSoap11Endpoint/. An unauthenticated user is able to read directory listings or system files, or cause SSRF or Denial of Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14759 represents a critical XML External Entity (XXE) flaw within OpenText Document Sciences xPression version 4.5SP1 Patch 13 and potentially older versions. This security weakness resides in the /xFramework/services/QuickDoc.QuickDocHttpSoap11Endpoint/ component of the application, which processes XML requests without adequate input validation or sanitization. The XXE vulnerability allows malicious actors to manipulate the application's XML parser behavior by introducing external entity references that can be exploited to access sensitive system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of XML requests sent to the affected SOAP endpoint. When the application processes these requests, it fails to properly restrict external entity resolution, enabling attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that reference external resources. This flaw specifically affects the XML parsing functionality within the QuickDoc service, which handles document processing operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate XML parser configuration that permits external entity declarations and references without proper validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, encompassing several critical attack vectors including arbitrary file reading, server-side request forgery, and denial of service conditions. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this weakness to enumerate directory structures, read sensitive system files, or access internal network resources through SSRF attacks. The ability to read system files exposes potential sensitive data including configuration files, credentials, or application source code that could lead to further compromise. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited to cause denial of service by consuming system resources through malformed XML requests or by initiating resource-intensive operations.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 (Exploitation for Credential Access) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS). The flaw represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in web services, where XML parsers are configured to accept external entity references without proper restrictions. Organizations utilizing this software are particularly vulnerable as the attack surface includes not only direct file access but also potential lateral movement opportunities through SSRF capabilities that could allow attackers to probe internal network services.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application from OpenText, which would address the underlying XML parsing configuration issues. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the vulnerable endpoint, particularly limiting exposure to internal networks. Input validation should be enhanced to reject any XML content containing external entity declarations, and the XML parser configuration should be updated to disable external entity resolution entirely. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual XML request patterns and potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack.