CVE-2022-28890 in Jena
Summary
by MITRE • 05/05/2022
A vulnerability in the RDF/XML parser of Apache Jena allows an attacker to cause an external DTD to be retrieved. This issue affects Apache Jena version 4.4.0 and prior versions. Apache Jena 4.2.x and 4.3.x do not allow external entities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-28890 represents a significant security flaw within the RDF/XML parser component of Apache Jena, a widely-used Java framework for building semantic web applications and handling Resource Description Framework data. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of external document type definitions within the XML parsing process, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise systems processing RDF/XML content. The issue specifically impacts Apache Jena versions 4.4.0 and earlier, while versions 4.2.x and 4.3.x have already implemented protective measures against external entity resolution, demonstrating the evolving nature of security hardening in software frameworks.
The technical flaw manifests when the RDF/XML parser encounters XML documents containing external DTD declarations that reference external resources. This behavior enables attackers to perform server-side request forggering attacks by crafting malicious RDF/XML documents that instruct the parser to retrieve external resources from controlled servers. The vulnerability operates at the parser level where XML external entity processing is not properly restricted, allowing the system to resolve and fetch external entities without adequate validation or access controls. This issue falls under the category of XML External Entity processing vulnerabilities, which are commonly classified as CWE-611 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system, representing a critical weakness in XML processing that can lead to information disclosure, denial of service, or remote code execution depending on the implementation context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data processing concerns to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration risks. When systems process RDF/XML content from untrusted sources, attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized network requests, potentially accessing internal resources that should remain isolated from external networks. The attack surface includes any application or service that utilizes Apache Jena's RDF/XML parsing capabilities, particularly those handling user-provided or third-party RDF data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol: DNS, where attackers can use XML parsing vulnerabilities to establish command and control channels or exfiltrate data through external resource retrieval mechanisms.
Organizations utilizing Apache Jena versions 4.4.0 or earlier should prioritize immediate remediation through version upgrades to 4.5.0 or later, which contain the necessary patches to prevent external entity resolution during RDF/XML parsing operations. Additionally, administrators should implement network-level restrictions that prevent outbound connections from systems processing RDF/XML content, particularly to internal networks or sensitive external resources. The mitigation strategy should also include validating and sanitizing all RDF/XML input through additional layers of validation before processing, ensuring that any external DTD references are properly handled or rejected. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis, looking for unusual outbound connections that might indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability, and implement proper logging and alerting mechanisms to detect and respond to such attacks effectively.