CVE-2018-1844 in FileNet Content Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM FileNet Content Manager 5.2.1 and 5.5.0 is vulnerable to a XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 150904.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1844 affects IBM FileNet Content Manager versions 5.2.1 and 5.5.0, representing a critical XML External Entity Injection flaw that exposes the system to significant security risks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 category of XML External Entity Injection, which occurs when an application processes untrusted XML data without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw specifically manifests during XML data processing operations within the content management system, creating an attack surface that remote adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly restrict external entity resolution when parsing XML input. When the system receives XML data containing external entity references, it processes these references without adequate safeguards, allowing attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can trigger various malicious behaviors. The attack vector enables remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where FileNet Content Manager typically handles sensitive business data and document management workflows.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential resource exhaustion and system instability. Attackers can leverage XXE injection to perform server-side request forgery attacks, access internal network resources, and consume excessive memory resources through recursive entity expansion. The vulnerability creates opportunities for data exfiltration where attackers might access local files, internal system information, or even escalate privileges within the content management environment. This poses significant risks to organizations relying on FileNet Content Manager for document retention, workflow automation, and enterprise content management.
Security mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patch application from IBM as the primary remediation measure, followed by comprehensive input validation and sanitization of all XML processing components. Organizations should implement network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to FileNet Content Manager services, particularly those handling XML data inputs. The implementation of XML parsers with disabled external entity resolution and proper XML schema validation can significantly reduce the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual XML processing patterns and memory consumption spikes that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, highlighting the importance of protecting enterprise content management systems from unauthorized data access and exfiltration.