CVE-2018-10864 in redhat-certification
Summary
by MITRE
An uncontrolled resource consumption flaw has been discovered in redhat-certification in the way documents are loaded. A remote attacker may provide an existing but invalid XML file which would be opened and never closed, possibly producing a Denial of Service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10864 represents a critical resource consumption flaw within Red Hat Certification software that manifests during document loading operations. This issue specifically affects the XML processing functionality where the application fails to properly manage file handles and system resources when encountering malformed or invalid XML files. The flaw exists in the resource management logic that governs how the system handles file operations, creating a scenario where opened file descriptors remain in an uncontrolled state indefinitely.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from inadequate resource cleanup mechanisms within the XML parsing subsystem. When an attacker supplies a valid but malformed XML file, the application attempts to process the document but fails to properly close the file handle after detection of the invalid format. This results in a resource leak where file descriptors remain open and consume system memory and file handle resources. The issue is classified as an uncontrolled resource consumption flaw, which aligns with CWE-400 - Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, and represents a classic denial of service vector through resource exhaustion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to systematically consume system resources without requiring authentication or privileged access. An attacker could repeatedly submit malformed XML files to exhaust available file handles, memory resources, or process limits on the target system. This creates a persistent denial of service condition that can render the certification application unavailable to legitimate users while consuming system resources that could impact overall system performance and stability.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across any environment where Red Hat Certification software processes external XML documents, particularly in web applications or services that accept user-uploaded content. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper resource management and error handling mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework category T1499 - Endpoint Denial of Service, this vulnerability enables adversaries to disrupt services through resource exhaustion, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise system availability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper resource cleanup mechanisms, adding input validation for XML files, and establishing resource limits to prevent indefinite consumption. System administrators should apply vendor patches immediately and consider implementing monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns. Additionally, deploying XML parsing libraries with built-in resource management and implementing proper exception handling for file operations can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and resource management guidelines to prevent similar issues in software development lifecycle processes.