CVE-2017-6895 in USB Pratirodh
Summary
by MITRE
USB Pratirodh allows remote attackers to conduct XML External Entity (XXE) attacks via XML data in usb.xml.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6895 affects USB Pratirodh software which enables remote attackers to execute XML External Entity attacks through malicious XML data embedded in usb.xml files. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits the improper handling of XML input within the application's processing pipeline. The vulnerability stems from the software's failure to adequately validate and sanitize XML content, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the XML parser behavior and potentially access sensitive system resources or execute arbitrary code.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, and falls under the broader category of XXE attacks that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature. The attack vector involves crafting specially formatted XML data that references external entities, allowing attackers to probe internal network resources, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or potentially exfiltrate data from the affected system. The usb.xml file serves as the attack surface where malicious XML content can be injected to trigger the vulnerable XML parser implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities within the network environment. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to access internal system files, conduct port scanning of internal services, or even escalate privileges if the application runs with elevated permissions. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the target system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on USB Pratirodh for device management or security monitoring.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, implementing strict input validation for all XML content, and employing web application firewalls that can detect and block XXE attack patterns. The solution involves configuring XML parsers to reject external entity declarations and ensuring that all XML processing occurs within secure sandboxes. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other XML processing components throughout the infrastructure. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in preventing widespread exploitation of XML parsing vulnerabilities.