CVE-2018-1000515 in News-Articles
Summary
by MITRE
ventrian News-Articles version NewsArticles.00.09.11 contains a XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in News-Articles/API/MetaWebLog/Handler.ashx.vb that can result in Attacker can read any file in the server or use smbrelay attack to access to server..
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2020
The CVE-2018-1000515 vulnerability represents a critical XML External Entity processing flaw within the Ventrian News-Articles module version 00.09.11. This vulnerability specifically affects the MetaWebLog/Handler.ashx.vb endpoint which processes XML requests through the ASP.NET framework. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize XML input received from external sources, allowing malicious actors to inject specially crafted XML entities that can be processed by the underlying XML parser. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 weakness category, which specifically addresses XML External Entity processing vulnerabilities that can lead to information disclosure and remote code execution.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability enables attackers to perform server-side request forgery attacks and gain unauthorized access to sensitive server resources. When an attacker sends a malicious XML payload to the vulnerable endpoint, the XML parser processes external entity references that can cause the server to read arbitrary files from the local filesystem. This includes accessing sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or other confidential data stored on the server. The vulnerability also opens the possibility for SMB relay attacks, where attackers can leverage the XXE processing to perform authentication relay attacks against Windows systems within the network. This attack vector allows adversaries to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the internal network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for persistent access and lateral movement within affected environments. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Ventrian News-Articles are at risk of complete system compromise, particularly in environments where the web application has elevated privileges or access to sensitive data repositories. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the news articles module, potentially disrupting business operations while simultaneously creating security exposure. Attackers can use this vulnerability to exfiltrate sensitive data, establish backdoors, or use the compromised server as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the same network domain.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1000515 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected software to the latest available version that addresses the XXE processing vulnerability. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent XML external entity processing in all web applications. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the impact of such vulnerabilities by restricting access to the vulnerable endpoints. Additionally, implementing security monitoring and logging for XML processing activities can help detect exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for XML external entity processing and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures including web application firewalls, input validation controls, and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider disabling XML external entity processing entirely in their XML parsers and implementing proper access controls to limit file system access for web applications.