CVE-2018-11719 in PC2
Summary
by MITRE
Xovis PC2, PC2R, and PC3 devices through 3.6.0 allow XXE.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11719 affects Xovis security devices including PC2, PC2R, and PC3 models running firmware versions up to 3.6.0. These devices are network video recording systems designed for surveillance and access control applications in enterprise environments. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows attackers to exploit XML External Entity processing within the device's web interface, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive system information and network resources.
This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the XML parser component of the affected devices. When the system processes XML data containing external entity references, it fails to properly sanitize the input, allowing attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can trigger unauthorized resource access. The flaw specifically resides in the device's handling of XML data submitted through web forms or API endpoints, creating an attack surface that can be exploited without requiring authentication. The vulnerability is classified as an XML External Entity injection, which maps to CWE-611 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Xovis devices for security monitoring. An attacker could leverage this weakness to access internal network resources, potentially escalate privileges, or extract sensitive configuration data from the devices. The vulnerability could enable lateral movement within a network, as the affected devices often serve as central points for security monitoring and access control. Additionally, the exploitation could lead to denial of service conditions, data exfiltration, or unauthorized modification of device settings that could compromise security posture. Organizations using these devices may face compliance violations if sensitive data is accessed or modified without authorization, particularly in regulated environments where security controls are mandated.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates from Xovis to address the XXE vulnerability in affected devices. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices, disable unnecessary XML processing capabilities where possible, and monitor network traffic for suspicious XML data submissions. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected devices within their network infrastructure. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious XML content, restricting administrative access to these devices, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when handling external data sources in network security appliances. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to ensure personnel understand the risks associated with XML processing and the potential consequences of inadequate input sanitization.