CVE-2019-20153 in Contract Lifecycle Management
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Determine (formerly Selectica) Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) in v5.4. An XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in the upload definition feature in definition_upload_attach.jsp allows authenticated remote attackers to read arbitrary files (including configuration files containing administrative credentials).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20153 represents a critical XML external entity injection flaw within Determine's Contract Lifecycle Management platform version 5.4. This security weakness resides in the definition_upload_attach.jsp component, which processes file uploads for contract definitions. The XXE vulnerability arises from the application's improper handling of XML data during the upload process, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by authenticated remote adversaries. The flaw specifically impacts the file attachment functionality that allows users to upload definition files, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this contract management solution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize XML input received through the upload definition feature. When users attempt to upload definition files, the system processes XML content without adequate validation or sanitization measures. Attackers can craft malicious XML payloads that reference external entities, enabling them to access arbitrary files on the server filesystem. This includes sensitive configuration files that may contain administrative credentials, database connection strings, and other critical system information. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations utilizing Determine CLM v5.4 as it allows for unauthorized data exfiltration and potential system compromise. The ability to read configuration files containing administrative credentials creates a pathway for attackers to gain elevated privileges within the system. This could lead to complete system compromise, unauthorized access to contract data, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the system, as attackers can access sensitive business information and potentially modify system configurations. Organizations may also face regulatory compliance violations if sensitive data is exposed due to this flaw, particularly in industries with strict data protection requirements.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by applying the vendor-provided patches or updates that resolve the XXE processing issues in the definition_upload_attach.jsp component. The recommended approach includes disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers and implementing proper input validation for all XML content received through file upload mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the CLM system and monitor for suspicious file upload activities. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other potential XXE vulnerabilities within their systems and ensure proper access controls are in place to limit the impact of authenticated attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-611, which specifically addresses improper restriction of XML external entity reference, and represents a significant concern under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through exploitation of remote services.