CVE-2023-49110 in SAST
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2024
When the Kiuwan Local Analyzer uploads the scan results to the Kiuwan SAST web application (either on-premises or cloud/SaaS solution), the transmitted data consists of a ZIP archive containing several files, some of them in the XML file format. During Kiuwan's server-side processing of these XML files, it resolves external XML entities, resulting in a XML external entity injection attack. An attacker with privileges to scan source code within the "Code Security" module is able to extract any files of the operating system with the rights of the application server user and is potentially able to gain sensitive files, such as configuration and passwords. Furthermore, this vulnerability also allows an attacker to initiate connections to internal systems, e.g. for port scans or accessing other internal functions / applications such as the Wildfly admin console of Kiuwan.
This issue affects Kiuwan SAST: <master.1808.p685.q13371
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2023-49110 represents a critical XML external entity injection flaw within the Kiuwan Local Analyzer's data transmission and processing workflow. This security weakness occurs during the upload process when scan results are transmitted to the Kiuwan SAST web application through a ZIP archive containing XML formatted files. The vulnerability stems from the server-side processing of these XML files where the application resolves external XML entities without proper input validation or sanitization mechanisms. The flaw exists in the Kiuwan SAST version identified as master.1808.p685.q13371 and impacts both on-premises deployments and cloud/SaaS solutions, creating a consistent security risk across all deployment models.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables an attacker with access to the "Code Security" module to perform unauthorized file system operations with the privileges of the application server user. This represents a severe privilege escalation scenario where attackers can extract sensitive configuration files, credentials, and other system files that would normally be protected from unauthorized access. The XML external entity injection allows for arbitrary file reading capabilities, potentially exposing critical system information that could be leveraged for further attacks. Additionally, the vulnerability creates opportunities for network reconnaissance and lateral movement within the target environment, as attackers can initiate connections to internal systems and potentially access other applications such as the Wildfly admin console.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery), T1046 (Network Service Scanning), and T1566 (Phishing). The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires only access to the Code Security module, which is typically available to developers or security personnel within an organization. This means the vulnerability could be exploited by both external attackers who have gained initial access and internal threat actors with legitimate access to the system. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and network reconnaissance activities that could facilitate more extensive attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including disabling external entity resolution in XML parsers, implementing strict input validation for all XML content, and restricting access to the Code Security module to authorized personnel only. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual outbound connections from the application server. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper XML processing configurations in security tools. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar issues in other components of the Kiuwan platform and related systems. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.