CVE-2017-9231 in XenMobile Server
Summary
by MITRE
XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in Citrix XenMobile Server 9.x and 10.x before 10.5 RP3 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2020
The CVE-2017-9231 vulnerability represents a critical XML external entity processing flaw discovered in Citrix XenMobile Server versions 9.x and 10.x prior to 10.5 RP3. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 category of XML External Entity Processing and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories. The flaw enables attackers to exploit the server's XML parser to access sensitive information through unspecified vectors that typically involve manipulation of external entity references within XML documents processed by the vulnerable system.
The technical implementation of this XXE vulnerability occurs when the Citrix XenMobile Server processes XML input without proper validation or sanitization of external entity declarations. Attackers can craft malicious XML payloads that reference external resources or internal system files, allowing them to perform unauthorized data access operations. The vulnerability exists in the server's handling of XML data structures that are commonly used for configuration management, user authentication, or data exchange processes within the mobile device management platform. This flaw specifically affects the server's XML processing capabilities rather than client-side components, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to access sensitive data including user credentials, configuration files, and potentially system-level information that could facilitate further exploitation. The vulnerability affects organizations using Citrix XenMobile Server for mobile device management, which typically handles confidential corporate data and user information. Successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation, lateral movement within the network, and compromise of the entire mobile device management infrastructure. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple attack surfaces including web interfaces, API endpoints, or administrative interfaces that process XML data.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Citrix XenMobile Server 10.5 RP3 or later versions that contain patches addressing this XXE vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the vulnerable server, particularly limiting external access to XML processing endpoints. Input validation and sanitization measures should be strengthened to prevent XML external entity processing, and organizations should disable unnecessary XML parsing capabilities where possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual XML processing patterns or attempts to access external resources through the server. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments can help identify and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper XML processing security controls and demonstrates how seemingly minor parsing flaws can lead to significant information disclosure risks in enterprise mobile management platforms.