CVE-2021-22501 in Operations Bridge Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 12/19/2024
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability in OpenText™ Operations Bridge Manager allows Input Data Manipulation.
The vulnerability could be exploited to confidential information
This issue affects Operations Bridge Manager: 2017.05, 2017.11, 2018.05, 2018.11, 2019.05, 2019.11, 2020.05, 2020.10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
The CVE-2021-22501 vulnerability represents a critical improper restriction of XML external entity reference flaw within OpenText Operations Bridge Manager, a comprehensive IT operations management platform designed for monitoring and managing enterprise infrastructure. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-611 category of Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, which is a well-documented weakness in XML processing implementations that allows attackers to manipulate XML parsers and potentially access sensitive system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects multiple versions of the Operations Bridge Manager including 2017.05, 2017.11, 2018.05, 2018.11, 2019.05, 2019.11, 2020.05, and 2020.10, indicating a widespread issue that has persisted across several major releases of this enterprise monitoring solution.
The technical flaw manifests when the Operations Bridge Manager processes XML input data that contains external entity references without proper validation or restriction mechanisms. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can trigger XML external entity (XXE) processing, potentially allowing them to access local files, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or even execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability operates at the input data manipulation level, where untrusted XML data is parsed without adequate sanitization, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the underlying XML parser implementation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1213.002 - Data from Information Repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to system information through manipulated input data processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise when exploited effectively. Attackers could leverage this weakness to access sensitive operational data, system configurations, or authentication credentials stored within the Operations Bridge Manager environment. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions suggests that organizations running any of these affected releases are at risk of data breaches or system infiltration. The potential for confidential information exposure makes this particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Operations Bridge Manager typically handles critical infrastructure monitoring data and operational intelligence. Organizations using this platform may experience unauthorized access to their IT operations data, potentially compromising their ability to maintain operational security and integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-22501 should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations should implement XML input validation and sanitization measures to prevent external entity references from being processed, particularly when handling untrusted data from external sources or user inputs. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous XML processing activities. The implementation of web application firewalls and XML parsers with restricted entity processing capabilities can provide additional protective layers. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems that may be vulnerable to similar XXE processing flaws, particularly in environments where XML processing is prevalent. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to ensure that input validation mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack techniques.