CVE-2023-3892 in MIM Assistant
Summary
by MITRE • 09/19/2023
Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference vulnerability in MIM Assistant and Client DICOM RTst Loading modules allows XML Entity Linking / XML External Entities Blowup.
In order to take advantage of this vulnerability, an attacker must craft a malicious XML document, embed this document into specific 3rd party private RTst metadata tags, transfer the now compromised DICOM object to MIM, and force MIM to archive and load the data.
Users on either version are strongly encouraged to update to an unaffected version (7.2.11+, 7.3.4+).
This issue was found and analyzed by MIM Software's internal security team. We are unaware of any proof of concept or actual exploit available in the wild.
For more information, visit https://www.mimsoftware.com/cve-2023-3892 https://www.mimsoftware.com/cve-2023-3892
This issue affects MIM Assistant: 7.2.10, 7.3.3; MIM Client: 7.2.10, 7.3.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3892 represents a critical improper restriction of XML external entity reference flaw within MIM Assistant and Client DICOM RTst Loading modules. This weakness falls under the well-documented CWE-611 category, which specifically addresses XML external entity processing vulnerabilities that can lead to various security breaches including denial of service, data exfiltration, and remote code execution. The vulnerability manifests in the handling of DICOM objects that contain specially crafted XML content within private RTst metadata tags, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through XML entity linking mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a sophisticated attack vector that involves crafting a malicious XML document and embedding it within specific third-party private RTst metadata tags. The attack chain necessitates transferring the compromised DICOM object to the MIM system and subsequently forcing the system to archive and load the data, which triggers the XML parsing process that fails to properly restrict external entity references. This processing failure allows the system to resolve external entities and potentially execute malicious code or access unauthorized resources within the network environment.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to healthcare organizations relying on MIM systems for medical imaging management. The exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, system compromise, and potential disruption of critical medical imaging workflows. The attack requires insider knowledge of the DICOM format and specific MIM system behaviors, making it less likely to be exploited at scale but still posing a serious threat to organizations with compromised credentials or insider threats. The vulnerability affects both MIM Assistant and Client versions 7.2.10 and 7.3.3, with the patched versions 7.2.11+ and 7.3.4+ providing the necessary protections against this specific attack vector.
The mitigation strategy centers on immediate deployment of the patched versions 7.2.11+ and 7.3.4+ as recommended by MIM Software's internal security team. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect unusual DICOM object transfers or processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, as it enables unauthorized access to medical imaging data through compromised system components. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and XML processing security measures, particularly in healthcare environments where system integrity and patient data protection are paramount. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their DICOM handling processes and implement additional layers of defense including XML schema validation and external entity restriction policies to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other system components.