CVE-2022-0861 in ePolicy Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE • 03/23/2022
A XML Extended entity vulnerability in McAfee Enterprise ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) prior to 5.10 Update 13 allows a remote administrator attacker to upload a malicious XML file through the extension import functionality. The impact is limited to some access to confidential information and some ability to alter data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0861 represents a critical XML external entity processing flaw within McAfee Enterprise ePolicy Orchestrator version 5.10 Update 12 and earlier releases. This issue resides in the extension import functionality that permits remote administrative attackers to upload malicious XML files, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this security management platform. The vulnerability specifically affects the XML parsing mechanism used by ePO when processing imported extensions, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize external entity references within XML documents.
This flaw falls under the CWE-611 weakness category, which specifically addresses Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, a well-documented vulnerability pattern that has been exploited in numerous high-profile security incidents across various platforms. The vulnerability enables attackers to leverage XML external entity processing to access internal resources, potentially allowing for information disclosure and data manipulation within the scope of the affected system. The attack vector requires a remote administrative account, making it particularly concerning for organizations where administrative credentials might be compromised or where the system is accessible from untrusted networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access, as it provides attackers with the capability to alter data within the ePO environment, potentially compromising the integrity of security policies, configurations, and threat intelligence. The limited scope of impact mentioned in the description suggests that while attackers cannot achieve full system compromise, they can still manipulate the security management platform's configuration and data, which could severely undermine the organization's overall security posture. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity of security operations, as malicious actors could potentially disable security features or inject malicious policies that would go undetected by standard monitoring mechanisms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for McAfee ePO 5.10 Update 13, which addresses the XML external entity processing vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the ePO server to only authorized administrative personnel, and strict access controls should be enforced using multi-factor authentication and least privilege principles. Additionally, organizations should monitor for suspicious import activities and implement network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit XML external entity vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing, specifically targeting the ePO administrative interface, and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it requires administrative credentials to exploit effectively. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that no other XML processing components within the McAfee ecosystem remain vulnerable to similar attacks, as the XML external entity vulnerability is often present in multiple system components and requires comprehensive remediation across all affected platforms.