CVE-2019-20191 in XML Editor
Summary
by MITRE
Oxygen XML Editor 21.1.1 allows XXE to read any file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2024
Oxygen XML Editor version 21.1.1 contains a critical vulnerability that enables external XML entity (XXE) injection attacks, allowing unauthorized file access on systems running the affected software. This vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and improper handling of XML entities within the application's processing pipeline. The flaw specifically affects the editor's ability to parse XML documents, where external entities are not properly sanitized or restricted during document loading and processing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to disable external entity resolution when parsing XML content. When Oxygen XML Editor encounters XML documents containing external entity declarations, it does not appropriately restrict access to local file system resources. This behavior aligns with CWE-611, which classifies improper restriction of XML external entity reference as a critical weakness in XML processing applications. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious XML documents that reference local files through external entity declarations, enabling them to read arbitrary files from the system where the editor is installed.
The operational impact of this XXE vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker with access to the affected system or the ability to influence XML content processing can extract sensitive information including configuration files, user credentials, system logs, and other confidential data stored locally. The vulnerability can be leveraged to bypass traditional security controls and access data that should remain protected. This represents a significant risk to organizations using Oxygen XML Editor for processing untrusted XML content, as the attack can be executed through seemingly legitimate document processing operations. The vulnerability also enables potential escalation to other attack vectors, as the extracted information could be used for further exploitation attempts.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and script injection, and T1566 for credential access through the exploitation of XML processing weaknesses. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where the editor processes XML documents from external sources or where users have the ability to upload or import XML content. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, restricting file system access for the application, and implementing proper input validation for all XML content. Additionally, regular updates to the Oxygen XML Editor should be prioritized to ensure the latest security patches are applied, as this vulnerability represents a known issue that has been addressed in subsequent releases. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure XML processing practices and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous XML parsing functionality can become a critical security risk when proper input sanitization is not implemented.