CVE-2018-3600 in Control Manager
Summary
by MITRE
A external entity processing information disclosure (XXE) vulnerability in Trend Micro Control Manager 6.0 could allow a remote attacker to disclose sensitive information on vulnerable installations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2020
The CVE-2018-3600 vulnerability represents a critical external entity processing flaw within Trend Micro Control Manager version 6.0, specifically categorized under CWE-611 Information Disclosure. This vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of XML external entity references during data processing operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's XML parser configuration. The flaw exists in the way the software processes incoming XML data streams, particularly when parsing configuration files or data inputs that contain external entity declarations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted XML requests that include malicious external entity references pointing to internal system resources or network services. The vulnerability specifically affects the control manager's ability to validate and sanitize XML input, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to potentially access sensitive information stored within the system's internal network infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability follows established patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.1004 for XML External Entity Processing and T1041 for Exfiltration via External Systems. When the vulnerable system processes XML data containing external entity references, the XML parser attempts to resolve these entities by accessing specified URLs or file paths, potentially exposing internal system information, file contents, or network service details. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can enable further exploitation paths including potential lateral movement within the network environment. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization, where the application fails to properly restrict the scope of external entity resolution, allowing attackers to access resources that should remain isolated from external processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3600 poses significant risks to organizations using Trend Micro Control Manager 6.0, particularly in enterprise environments where the system manages critical security infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to system configuration files, user credentials, network topology information, and potentially sensitive operational data stored within the control manager's database. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter without requiring valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that do not properly segment their security infrastructure. The disclosure of sensitive information could enable attackers to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting other systems within the same network environment, as they would gain insights into internal system configurations, service endpoints, and potential security controls in place.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Trend Micro Control Manager, disabling external entity processing in XML parsers, and implementing network segmentation controls to limit access to vulnerable systems. The mitigation strategies should align with industry best practices for XXE prevention as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious XML processing activities, and input validation should be strengthened to prevent malicious XML content from being processed by the system. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper XML security configuration and demonstrates how seemingly simple parsing operations can create significant security risks when not properly secured against external entity references. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other systems that may be susceptible to similar XXE vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.