CVE-2023-45192 in Engineering Requirements Management DOORS Next
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2024
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS Next 7.0.2 and 7.0.3 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: 268758.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45192 affects IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS Next versions 7.0.2 and 7.0.3, representing a critical XML External Entity Injection (XXE) flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit the system through malformed XML processing. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-611, which specifically addresses improper restriction of XML external entity references. The XXE vulnerability exists within the application's XML parser implementation, where it fails to properly validate or sanitize external entity references during XML data processing operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious XML payloads that reference external resources, potentially leading to information disclosure, denial of service, or even remote code execution depending on the underlying system configuration.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability occurs when the DOORS Next application processes XML data without adequate input validation or secure XML parsing configurations. When the system encounters external entity declarations within XML documents, it may resolve these references and retrieve content from remote servers or local file systems. This behavior enables attackers to access internal network resources, read sensitive files, or perform server-side request forgery attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can also lead to excessive memory consumption through recursive entity expansion attacks, potentially causing denial of service conditions that affect system availability and operational integrity.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are significant for organizations utilizing IBM DOORS Next in their requirements management workflows. Remote attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive project data, system configurations, or intellectual property stored within the application's environment. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of requirements management systems where XML data exchange is prevalent, potentially compromising the integrity of requirement specifications, test cases, and other critical documentation. Organizations relying on DOORS Next for compliance management, audit trails, or regulatory reporting may face serious consequences if attackers successfully exploit this XXE vulnerability to access or manipulate sensitive business-critical data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45192 should prioritize immediate patching of affected IBM DOORS Next installations to the latest available security updates from IBM. Organizations should also implement XML parser configuration changes that disable external entity resolution and DTD processing entirely within the application's XML handling components. Network-level protections including firewall rules, intrusion detection systems, and web application firewalls can help detect and block suspicious XML traffic patterns. Additionally, implementing strict input validation and sanitization measures for all XML data processing operations, combined with regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning, will help maintain defense-in-depth posture. According to ATT&CK framework tactic TA0043 (Initial Access) and technique T1213 (Data from Information Repositories), this vulnerability represents a significant vector for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise information management systems through the exploitation of XML processing weaknesses. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that track unusual XML processing activities and implement automated alerting for potential XXE attack attempts.