CVE-2022-23170 in SysAid
Summary
by MITRE • 06/24/2022
SysAid - Okta SSO integration - was found vulnerable to XML External Entity Injection vulnerability. Any SysAid environment that uses the Okta SSO integration might be vulnerable. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit the XXE vulnerability by sending a malformed POST request to the identity provider endpoint. An attacker can extract the identity provider endpoint by decoding the SAMLRequest parameter's value and searching for the AssertionConsumerServiceURL parameter's value. It often allows an attacker to view files on the application server filesystem and interact with any back-end or external systems that the application can access. In some situations, an attacker can escalate an XXE attack to compromise the underlying server or other back-end infrastructure by leveraging the XXE vulnerability to perform server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-23170 represents a critical XML External Entity Injection flaw within the SysAid Okta SSO integration component. This weakness resides in the identity provider endpoint handling mechanism where the application fails to properly validate and sanitize XML input received through SAML requests. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes malformed POST requests containing crafted XML entities that reference external resources, allowing unauthorized access to internal system components and data. The flaw specifically impacts environments utilizing the Okta Single Sign-On integration, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on this authentication framework.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of SAMLRequest parameters within the authentication flow. Attackers can decode the SAMLRequest value to identify the AssertionConsumerServiceURL endpoint, which serves as the target for malicious payload delivery. This process enables attackers to construct targeted requests that trigger the XML parser to resolve external entity references, potentially accessing local files, internal network resources, and backend services. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with the capability to perform server-side request forgery attacks, effectively bypassing network segmentation controls and accessing systems that would otherwise be protected by firewalls or network boundaries.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, aligning with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and potentially mapping to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application). An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive data from the application server filesystem, potentially accessing configuration files, database credentials, and other critical system information. The vulnerability's potential for escalation makes it particularly dangerous as attackers can use the XXE primitive to perform SSRF attacks against internal systems, effectively expanding their attack surface and potentially compromising the entire backend infrastructure. Organizations utilizing SysAid with Okta SSO integration face significant risk of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and potential complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the affected SysAid components and implementation of strict XML input validation controls. Organizations must ensure that XML parsers are configured to disable external entity resolution and DTD processing entirely. Network segmentation controls should be enhanced to restrict access to identity provider endpoints, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous SAML request patterns. The implementation of web application firewalls with XXE detection capabilities provides additional protection layers. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all SSO integrations and establish proper input sanitization procedures for all XML processing components. Regular security testing and code reviews focused on XML handling mechanisms will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and application security hardening.