CVE-2019-3722 in OpenManage Server Administrator
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) versions prior to 9.1.0.3 and prior to 9.2.0.4 contain an XML external entity (XXE) injection vulnerability. A remote unauthenticated attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary server system files by supplying specially crafted document type definitions (DTDs) in an XML request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2023
The CVE-2019-3722 vulnerability represents a critical XML external entity injection flaw discovered in Dell EMC OpenManage Server Administrator software versions prior to 9.1.0.3 and 9.2.0.4. This vulnerability resides within the XML processing functionality of the OMSA management interface, which is commonly used for server monitoring and administration tasks. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate how XML data is parsed and processed, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data access and system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects the server management capabilities that rely on XML-based communication protocols for configuration and status reporting.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability occurs when the OMSA service processes incoming XML requests that contain maliciously crafted document type definitions. An attacker can construct specially formatted XML payloads that reference external entities, enabling them to read arbitrary files from the server filesystem. This occurs because the XML parser does not properly validate or sanitize external entity references, allowing the system to resolve and process these external resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it requires no authentication credentials, making it accessible to remote attackers who can leverage it without prior system access. The flaw falls under the CWE-611 category of improper restriction of XML external entity reference, which is a well-documented weakness in XML processing implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3722 extends beyond simple file reading capabilities, as it can potentially enable attackers to access sensitive system information, configuration files, and potentially escalate privileges within the management environment. Server administrators who rely on OMSA for monitoring and management tasks face significant risk, as successful exploitation could expose critical infrastructure data and compromise the integrity of the management interface. The vulnerability affects organizations that use Dell EMC servers with OMSA installed, particularly those with exposed management interfaces or web services that process XML requests. This weakness can be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns targeting enterprise infrastructure, potentially serving as a stepping stone for further compromise. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for XML External Entity Injection and T1083 for file and directory discovery.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to OMSA versions 9.1.0.3 or 9.2.0.4, which contain the necessary patches to address the XXE vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to OMSA management interfaces, limiting exposure to unauthorized users. The implementation of XML input validation and sanitization measures can provide additional defense in depth. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected OMSA installations within their infrastructure. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper XML processing security controls and highlights the need for continuous security updates in enterprise management platforms. Organizations should also review their overall server management security posture and implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces.