CVE-2018-1845 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.3, 11.5, and 11.7 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: 150905.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2023
IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.3, 11.5, and 11.7 contain a critical XML External Entity Injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to manipulate XML processing behavior through crafted input data. This vulnerability falls under CWE-611, which specifically addresses XML External Entity processing without proper restrictions. The flaw occurs when the system processes XML data without adequately validating or sanitizing external entity references, enabling attackers to inject malicious external entities that can reference local files or consume system resources. The XXE vulnerability enables attackers to perform information disclosure attacks by accessing internal system files, or to conduct denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion by exploiting recursive entity references.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access sensitive information stored within the server environment, potentially including database credentials, configuration files, or proprietary data. The memory consumption aspect of this vulnerability presents additional risks, as maliciously crafted XML payloads can trigger excessive resource usage that may lead to system instability or denial of service conditions. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise data integration platforms where InfoSphere serves as a central hub for data processing and transformation activities, making it a high-value target for adversaries seeking to disrupt business operations or extract confidential information.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. Input validation and sanitization should be strengthened at all XML processing points within the application, with external entity references explicitly disabled or properly restricted. The system should be configured to reject any XML content containing external entity declarations or references to local resources. Network segmentation and access controls should limit exposure of the vulnerable system to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments should verify that XML parsers are configured with secure defaults, and that all XML processing components are updated to versions that properly handle external entities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls or security monitoring solutions that can detect and block suspicious XML processing patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 which covers data from information repositories, and T1499.004 which addresses network disruption through resource exhaustion, making it a critical concern for both information disclosure and availability attacks.