CVE-2019-3768 in RSA Authentication Manager
Summary
by MITRE
RSA Authentication Manager versions prior to 8.4 P7 contain an XML Entity Injection Vulnerability. A remote authenticated malicious user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to cause information disclosure of local system files by supplying specially crafted XML message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2024
The RSA Authentication Manager XML Entity Injection vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that affects versions prior to 8.4 P7, exposing organizations to significant information disclosure risks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 category of Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, which is a well-documented weakness in web applications that process XML data. The flaw exists in the XML processing functionality of the authentication manager, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize XML input before parsing, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the system's behavior through crafted XML messages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows a remote authenticated attacker to exploit the XML parser by injecting malicious entities that reference local system files. When the system processes these specially crafted XML messages, the parser resolves external entities and can potentially read sensitive files from the local filesystem, including configuration files, credential stores, or system information that should remain protected. This type of attack leverages the inherent capabilities of XML parsers to resolve external references, which can be manipulated to access resources that the application should not be able to read. The vulnerability specifically targets the XML processing libraries used within the RSA Authentication Manager, where insufficient input validation permits attackers to construct XML payloads that trigger the information disclosure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for organizations relying on RSA Authentication Manager for identity and access management. The remote authenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers who have legitimate access credentials can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. This could lead to exposure of authentication tokens, user credentials, system configurations, or other sensitive data that would normally be protected within the application's security boundaries. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as this access could potentially enable further attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Valid Accounts, where legitimate user credentials are used to exploit application-level vulnerabilities.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to RSA Authentication Manager version 8.4 P7 or later, which includes proper XML entity validation and sanitization measures. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing network segmentation to limit access to authentication services, monitoring XML processing activities for suspicious patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of XML handling components. Additional defensive measures include configuring XML parsers to disable external entity resolution, implementing web application firewalls with XML content inspection capabilities, and establishing robust logging and monitoring for unusual file access patterns. Security teams should also review and test their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be used as part of broader attack campaigns targeting authentication infrastructure. The remediation process should be followed by comprehensive security testing to validate that the XML processing functionality properly handles all types of input and that no similar vulnerabilities exist in related components.