CVE-2018-1077 in Spacewalk
Summary
by MITRE
Spacewalk 2.6 contains an API which has an XXE flaw allowing for the disclosure of potentially sensitive information from the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2020
The CVE-2018-1077 vulnerability resides within Spacewalk 2.6, a systems management platform that provides configuration management and monitoring capabilities for enterprise environments. This vulnerability manifests as an XML External Entity processing flaw in the application programming interface which enables malicious actors to exploit the system's XML parser. The flaw occurs when the system processes XML input without proper validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate the parsing behavior through external entity references. This particular vulnerability affects the API endpoints that handle XML data processing, creating a potential vector for information disclosure attacks that could compromise server-side resources and sensitive data repositories.
The technical implementation of this XXE vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly restrict external entity resolution during XML processing operations. When the Spacewalk API receives XML input containing external entity declarations, the system attempts to resolve these references without adequate security controls. This processing behavior allows attackers to construct malicious XML payloads that can reference local files, network resources, or internal system components. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, making it a well-documented weakness in XML processing implementations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive files on the server filesystem, potentially exposing configuration details, authentication credentials, or other confidential information stored within the system's local repositories.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1077 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. Successful exploitation allows adversaries to potentially access internal network resources, escalate privileges, or gather intelligence for further attacks. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the Spacewalk management platform, which typically handles critical system configuration data and monitoring information. From an attacker perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for XML External Entity Processing and T1566 for credential access through information gathering. Organizations utilizing Spacewalk 2.6 may face significant security implications including unauthorized access to system configurations, potential data breaches, and compromised system integrity. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Spacewalk is used for managing critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1077 should focus on implementing proper XML input validation and sanitization controls within the Spacewalk API. Organizations must ensure that external entity processing is disabled or properly restricted in all XML parsers used by the application. This includes configuring XML processors to reject external entity declarations and implementing input validation that prevents malicious XML payloads from being processed. The recommended approach involves updating to Spacewalk versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the vendor has released patches to resolve the XXE processing flaws. Additionally, network segmentation and API access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious XML processing activities, and regular security assessments should verify that XML processing components are properly configured to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components.