CVE-2022-45326 in Kwok Information Server
Summary
by MITRE • 12/06/2022
An XML external entity (XXE) injection vulnerability in Kwoksys Kwok Information Server before v2.9.5.SP31 allows remote authenticated users to conduct server-side request forgery (SSRF) attacks.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-45326 represents a critical XML external entity injection flaw within the Kwoksys Kwok Information Server platform. This issue affects versions prior to v2.9.5.SP31 and creates a significant security risk by allowing authenticated remote attackers to exploit server-side request forgery mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of XML data processing within the application's backend systems, creating an attack vector that can be leveraged by malicious actors with valid credentials to execute unauthorized operations against the server infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of XML entities within the Kwok Information Server's processing pipeline. When the application receives XML input containing external entity references, it fails to properly restrict or validate these references, enabling attackers to craft malicious XML payloads that can trigger unintended server behavior. This flaw specifically manifests in the server's XML parser configuration, which lacks proper restrictions on external entity resolution and DTD (Document Type Definition) processing. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-611, which categorizes improper restriction of XML external entity reference as a critical weakness in XML processing systems. The attack scenario enables authenticated users to construct XML requests that can cause the server to make arbitrary HTTP requests to internal or external systems, effectively bypassing network segmentation controls and potentially accessing sensitive internal resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration, as it enables sophisticated server-side request forgery attacks that can compromise the entire infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform reconnaissance activities by making requests to internal services that would normally be inaccessible from the external network, effectively turning the application server into a proxy for internal network scanning. The vulnerability can be exploited to access internal databases, web services, or other network resources that are protected by firewalls or network segmentation. This represents a significant risk in enterprise environments where the application server may have access to sensitive backend systems. The attack vector specifically enables the exploitation of the application's XML processing capabilities to perform unauthorized network communications, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol tunneling and T1566 for phishing with malicious attachments or links that can be used to establish initial access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-45326 should prioritize immediate patching of the Kwok Information Server to version v2.9.5.SP31 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to prevent XML external entity processing. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including the restriction of XML parser configurations to disable external entity resolution and DTD processing, the implementation of input validation and sanitization for all XML data, and the deployment of web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious XML patterns. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous network requests originating from the affected application. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that XML processing functionality remains intact while eliminating the security risk, following security best practices outlined in OWASP XML Security guidelines and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for vulnerability management and remediation.