CVE-2023-22274 in RoboHelp Server
Summary
by MITRE • 11/17/2023
Adobe RoboHelp Server versions 11.4 and earlier are affected by an Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference ('XXE') vulnerability that could lead to information disclosure by an unauthenticated attacker. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2023
Adobe RoboHelp Server version 11.4 and earlier contains a critical xml external entity reference vulnerability that falls under the CWE-611 category of improper restriction of xml external entity references. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit the system by manipulating xml processing logic to reference external entities that can disclose sensitive information from the server. The flaw exists in how the application handles xml input without proper validation or restriction of external entity references, creating a pathway for malicious xml payloads to access internal server resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the server processes xml content that includes external entity declarations or references. An attacker can craft a malicious xml payload that references external resources through protocols such as http, file, or ftp, enabling them to extract information from the local file system or network resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely within the xml processing layer without requiring any user interaction or authentication, making it highly exploitable in automated attacks. This type of attack maps directly to the ATT&CK technique T1592.001 for reconnaissance and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable further attack vectors within the network infrastructure. An attacker could leverage this weakness to access configuration files, database connection strings, or other sensitive data stored on the server. The lack of user interaction requirements means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability at scale without needing to convince users to perform specific actions. The vulnerability affects the server's ability to properly validate xml input, creating a persistent security gap that could allow for extended reconnaissance or data exfiltration activities. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited from any network position without authentication.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected Adobe RoboHelp Server installations to version 11.5 or later where the XXE vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should also implement xml input validation and sanitization measures, including disabling external entity processing in xml parsers and implementing strict xml schema validation. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the potential impact of exploitation by restricting access to the server from untrusted networks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual xml processing activities or unauthorized file access attempts should be implemented as part of the security operations center procedures. The remediation efforts should include comprehensive testing to ensure that xml processing functionality remains intact while eliminating the XXE attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious xml payloads targeting this specific vulnerability type.