CVE-2019-18943 in Solutions Business Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/26/2021
Micro Focus Solutions Business Manager versions prior to 11.7.1 are vulnerable to XML External Entity Processing (XXE) on certain operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18943 affects Micro Focus Solutions Business Manager versions before 11.7.1, exposing a critical XML External Entity Processing flaw that enables unauthorized access to internal systems. This weakness resides in the application's handling of XML data processing operations, where external entity references are not properly sanitized or restricted. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes XML input containing external entity declarations, allowing attackers to manipulate the parsing behavior and potentially access local files, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or conduct denial of service operations against the affected system.
The technical implementation of this XXE vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the XML parser configuration, which fails to disable external entity resolution by default. This flaw aligns with CWE-611, which categorizes insecure XML processing as a significant security weakness that can lead to various attack vectors including information disclosure, bypass of access controls, and remote code execution in some scenarios. The vulnerability exists in the business manager's data processing pipeline where XML documents are parsed without proper security controls, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's XML handling capabilities.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive internal resources and system information. An attacker could leverage this XXE vulnerability to read local files on the server, access internal network services, or perform unauthorized operations within the business manager's operational scope. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Business Manager typically handles sensitive business data and may be integrated with other enterprise systems, potentially allowing lateral movement within the organization's infrastructure. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web application interfaces, API endpoints, or file upload mechanisms that process XML content.
Security mitigations for CVE-2019-18943 should prioritize immediate patching to Micro Focus Business Manager version 11.7.1 or later, which includes proper XML parser configuration to disable external entity resolution. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that sanitize all XML content before processing, particularly focusing on disabling external entity declarations and parameter entities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of vulnerable components, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous XML processing patterns. The implementation of web application firewalls and XML security gateways can provide additional defense layers, though these should complement rather than replace proper application-level fixes. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications within their environment that may be susceptible to similar XXE vulnerabilities, as this flaw is commonly found in enterprise applications that process XML data without proper security controls.