CVE-2024-34345 in cyclonedx-library
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
The CycloneDX JavaScript library contains the core functionality of OWASP CycloneDX for JavaScript. In 6.7.0, XML External entity injections were possible, when running the provided XML Validator on arbitrary input. This issue was fixed in version 6.7.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2024
The vulnerability identified in the CycloneDX JavaScript library represents a critical security flaw that emerged in version 6.7.0 and was subsequently addressed in version 6.7.1. This library serves as the primary implementation of the OWASP CycloneDX software bill of materials standard for JavaScript environments, making it a widely adopted component in software supply chain security tooling. The issue specifically pertains to XML external entity injection vulnerabilities that occurred during XML validation operations, highlighting a fundamental weakness in how the library handled untrusted input processing within its validation mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests when the library's XML validator processes arbitrary input data containing malicious XML entities. This vulnerability enables attackers to exploit the XML parsing functionality by introducing external entity references that can trigger unauthorized resource access or denial of service conditions. The issue falls under the CWE-611 category of XML External Entity Injection, which represents a well-documented class of vulnerabilities where XML processors fail to properly validate and sanitize external entity references in input data. When processing untrusted XML content, the library would inadvertently resolve these external entities, potentially allowing attackers to access local files, perform server-side request forgery attacks, or cause resource exhaustion through recursive entity expansion.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as the CycloneDX library is commonly integrated into development pipelines, security scanning tools, and software composition analysis platforms. Organizations utilizing vulnerable versions of this library face significant risk exposure when processing XML data from untrusted sources, particularly in automated build environments or continuous integration systems where dependency validation occurs. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from systems, disrupt service availability through resource exhaustion, or gain unauthorized access to internal network resources that are accessible to the validating process.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate deployment of version 6.7.1 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and XML entity validation controls. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all systems utilizing vulnerable versions of the library and implement automated monitoring for similar vulnerabilities in other dependencies. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation, input validation restrictions, and regular dependency audits as part of their overall security posture. The fix implemented in version 6.7.1 demonstrates proper XML processing controls that prevent external entity resolution during validation operations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential dumping and T1496 for resource hijacking through proper input sanitization practices.