CVE-2019-14693 in AssetExplorer
Summary
by MITRE
Zoho ManageEngine AssetExplorer 6.2.0 is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing license XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14693 affects Zoho ManageEngine AssetExplorer version 6.2.0 and represents a critical XML External Entity Injection flaw that fundamentally compromises the application's data processing security. This vulnerability resides in the license XML data handling mechanism, where the application fails to properly sanitize external entity references during XML parsing operations. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the XML parser behavior by introducing external entities that can reference local files, network resources, or trigger resource exhaustion attacks. Such weaknesses in XML processing are particularly dangerous because they can bypass traditional security controls and provide attackers with unexpected access vectors to internal systems and sensitive data repositories. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-611, which specifically addresses XML External Entity Processing vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information stored within the application's license management system.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious XML data containing external entity declarations that reference sensitive files on the target system or external network resources. During the XML parsing process, the application's XML parser resolves these external entities, potentially exposing internal file contents, system information, or triggering denial of service conditions through excessive resource consumption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the XML processing layer, which often bypasses standard input validation mechanisms and can be exploited without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform server-side request forgery attacks, access internal network resources, or cause memory exhaustion that leads to application instability and service disruption. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the vulnerability can be chained with other attacks to create more sophisticated exploitation scenarios.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, affecting both the confidentiality and availability aspects of the affected system. Organizations using Zoho ManageEngine AssetExplorer 6.2.0 face potential exposure of sensitive license information, system configurations, and potentially other internal data that might be accessible through the vulnerable XML processing. The memory consumption aspect of the attack can lead to denial of service conditions where legitimate users cannot access the application services, resulting in operational disruption and potential financial losses. Security teams must consider that this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for systems that are internet-facing or accessible from untrusted networks. The attack surface is further expanded because XML processing is often used in various application components, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access additional system resources beyond the initial exploitation point.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-14693 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected Zoho ManageEngine AssetExplorer version, as this represents the most effective solution to eliminate the vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict XML parsing configurations that disable external entity resolution and DTD processing, which directly addresses the root cause of XXE vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the affected application to untrusted networks, while implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures for all XML data processing operations. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual XML processing patterns and resource consumption anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls with XXE-specific rules and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other XML processing components within their infrastructure. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that patch implementation does not introduce compatibility issues with existing legitimate XML data processing workflows while maintaining the security posture against future XXE attack vectors.