CVE-2023-27876 in TRIRIGA
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
IBM TRIRIGA 4.0 is vulnerable to an XML external entity injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to expose sensitive information or consume memory resources. IBM X-Force ID: 249975.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-27876 affects IBM TRIRIGA 4.0, a comprehensive enterprise application platform designed for business process management and workflow automation. This system processes extensive XML data inputs for various operational functions including document management, form processing, and data integration. The XXE vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that allows malicious actors to manipulate the XML processing mechanisms within the application. The flaw specifically manifests when the system handles XML data containing external entity references, creating opportunities for unauthorized data access and system resource exhaustion.
This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and secure XML parser configuration within the IBM TRIRIGA platform. When the application processes XML payloads that include external entity declarations, it fails to properly restrict access to external resources or disable external entity resolution. The technical implementation allows attackers to craft malicious XML documents that reference external entities, potentially enabling them to access local files, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or consume excessive memory resources through entity expansion attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments.
The operational impact of this XXE vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential system resource exhaustion and data integrity compromise. Attackers could leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information from the application server, including configuration files, database credentials, or business data stored within the system. Memory consumption attacks could lead to denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting business operations and causing significant downtime. The vulnerability affects the core XML processing capabilities of IBM TRIRIGA, which means multiple application modules could be compromised simultaneously. According to CWE-611, this vulnerability maps directly to improper restriction of XML external entity reference, a well-documented weakness that has been exploited in numerous high-profile security incidents across enterprise applications.
Organizations utilizing IBM TRIRIGA 4.0 should prioritize immediate remediation through the vendor-provided security patches and updates. The recommended mitigation strategy involves configuring the XML parser to disable external entity resolution and parameter entity expansion, effectively preventing the exploitation of XXE vulnerabilities. Security teams should implement network-level controls including firewall rules to restrict access to XML processing endpoints and monitor for suspicious XML data patterns. Additionally, the implementation of web application firewalls with XXE detection capabilities can provide additional protective layers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) when considering how attackers might leverage the XXE to escalate privileges or establish persistence. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other XML processing components within the enterprise infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper XML parser configuration in enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive business data and processes.