CVE-2018-12463 in Fortify Software Security Center
Summary
by MITRE
An XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in Fortify Software Security Center (SSC), version 17.1, 17.2, 18.1 allows remote unauthenticated users to read arbitrary files or conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks via a crafted DTD in an XML request.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The CVE-2018-12463 vulnerability represents a critical XML external entity processing flaw within Fortify Software Security Center versions 17.1, 17.2, and 18.1. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 weakness category, specifically addressing improper restriction of XML external entity reference processing. The flaw exists in the application's handling of XML requests where it fails to properly validate or sanitize external entity declarations, creating an attack surface that enables malicious actors to exploit the system's XML parser configuration.
Security researchers identified that the vulnerability stems from the application's failure to disable external entity resolution when processing incoming XML data. This misconfiguration allows remote attackers to craft malicious XML requests containing specially crafted DTD (Document Type Definition) declarations that reference external resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication, making it accessible to any remote user who can submit XML requests to the affected system. The flaw operates by leveraging the XML parser's default behavior of resolving external entities, which can be manipulated to load arbitrary files from the server's file system or initiate outbound network requests to internal systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file disclosure, as it enables sophisticated server-side request forgery attacks that can be leveraged for internal network reconnaissance and lateral movement. Attackers can utilize the SSRF capability to target internal services that may not be directly accessible from the internet, effectively bypassing network segmentation controls. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations that rely on Fortify SSC for security analysis, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to sensitive internal systems and data repositories. The vulnerability's potential for privilege escalation and data exfiltration makes it a high-value target for both automated attacks and targeted threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12463 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Fortify SSC versions to address the underlying XML processing flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that disable external entity resolution in all XML parsers used within the application. Network segmentation controls and firewall rules should be enforced to limit access to the Fortify SSC application, particularly restricting access to internal resources. The implementation of web application firewalls with XML content inspection capabilities can provide additional protection layers. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar XXE vulnerabilities in other applications and systems. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be implemented to detect potential XXE vulnerabilities in the application infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive security frameworks and threat detection mechanisms.