CVE-2018-1307 in jUDDI
Summary
by MITRE
In Apache jUDDI 3.2 through 3.3.4, if using the WADL2Java or WSDL2Java classes, which parse a local or remote XML document and then mediates the data structures into UDDI data structures, there are little protections present against entity expansion and DTD type of attacks. Mitigation is to use 3.3.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1307 affects Apache jUDDI versions 3.2 through 3.3.4, representing a critical security flaw in the web services description and management framework. This issue specifically targets the WADL2Java and WSDL2Java classes that serve as essential components for parsing XML documents and converting them into UDDI data structures. The flaw arises from insufficient protections against XML external entity (XXE) attacks and denial of service through document type definition (DTD) processing, creating a significant security risk for systems utilizing these components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper XML parser configuration within the jUDDI framework's codebase. When these classes process XML documents from local or remote sources, they fail to disable external entity resolution and DTD processing, which allows attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can trigger entity expansion attacks. This vulnerability falls under CWE-611, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories. The absence of input validation and proper XML parser hardening creates a pathway for attackers to perform both denial of service attacks through excessive resource consumption and potential information disclosure through entity expansion.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1307 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities and potentially extract sensitive information from systems that process XML documents through jUDDI's WADL2Java and WSDL2Java classes. Systems exposed to this vulnerability may experience resource exhaustion through entity expansion attacks that can cause memory leaks and system instability, while the lack of DTD processing protections may allow for more sophisticated attacks including potential file system access or network-based attacks. Organizations using jUDDI in production environments face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for internet-facing services.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Apache jUDDI version 3.3.5, which includes proper XML parser configuration that disables external entity resolution and DTD processing. This upgrade addresses the root cause of the vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and XML security controls. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network-level protections including firewall rules that restrict access to jUDDI endpoints, implementing XML input validation at the application level, and monitoring for unusual XML processing patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review their XML processing libraries and ensure that all components properly configure XML parsers to disable external entity resolution, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in XML processing applications.