CVE-2023-40503 in Simple Editor
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2024
LG Simple Editor saveXmlFile XML External Entity Processing Information Disclosure Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disclose sensitive information on affected installations of LG Simple Editor. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the saveXmlFile method. Due to the improper restriction of XML External Entity (XXE) references, a crafted document specifying a URI causes the XML parser to access the URI and embed the contents back into the XML document for further processing. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to disclose information in the context of SYSTEM. . Was ZDI-CAN-19952.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2025
The CVE-2023-40503 vulnerability represents a critical XML External Entity processing flaw in LG Simple Editor that enables unauthorized information disclosure without authentication requirements. This vulnerability resides within the saveXmlFile method of the application's XML processing functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote attackers without any prior authentication credentials. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and processing of XML entities, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the XML parser behavior through crafted external entity references.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows the classic XXE exploitation pattern where the XML parser fails to properly restrict external entity references during document processing. When a malicious XML document containing crafted URI references is processed through the saveXmlFile method, the XML parser attempts to resolve these external entities by accessing the specified URIs and embedding their contents into the XML document. This process occurs in the SYSTEM context, meaning the vulnerability can potentially access local system resources and sensitive information that would normally be protected from external access. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 (Data from Information Repositories) as it enables unauthorized data extraction from system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially expose sensitive system files, configuration data, and other confidential information accessible through the SYSTEM context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the underlying system architecture, potentially identifying additional attack vectors or system weaknesses. The lack of authentication requirements makes this particularly concerning for web-facing applications, as any remote user can exploit this vulnerability without needing credentials or prior system access. The vulnerability affects all versions of LG Simple Editor that implement the affected saveXmlFile method, creating a widespread risk across deployments that have not been updated or patched.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict XML parser configurations that disable external entity resolution entirely, particularly for the saveXmlFile method and similar XML processing functions. Organizations should ensure that all XML parsers are configured with proper security settings that prevent loading external entities and resolving references to local files or network resources. The recommended approach includes implementing XML parser restrictions such as setting the proper feature flags to disable external entity processing and DTD resolution. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened to reject XML documents containing suspicious entity references, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit potential access to sensitive system resources. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper XML processing security controls and demonstrates how seemingly simple parsing functions can create significant security risks when not properly secured against external entity processing attacks.