CVE-2024-35532 in Geosafe-ea
Summary
by MITRE • 01/07/2025
An XML External Entity (XXE) injection vulnerability in Intersec Geosafe-ea 2022.12, 2022.13, and 2022.14 allows attackers to perform arbitrary file reading under the privileges of the running process, make SSRF requests, or cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-35532 represents a critical XML External Entity injection flaw affecting Intersec Geosafe-ea versions 2022.12, 2022.13, and 2022.14. This security weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-611, which specifically addresses XML external entity processing vulnerabilities that can lead to information disclosure, denial of service, and remote code execution. The affected system processes XML input without proper validation or sanitization, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can manipulate the XML parser to access internal system resources. The vulnerability stems from insufficient restrictions on external entity references within the XML processing pipeline, allowing attackers to specify external entities that point to local files or network resources.
The technical implementation of this XXE vulnerability enables attackers to leverage the XML parser's capabilities to perform unauthorized operations through various attack vectors. When the application processes XML data containing external entity declarations, the parser resolves these references without adequate controls, potentially allowing arbitrary file reads from the system where the application is running. This capability extends to making Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) requests that can traverse internal networks, bypassing traditional network segmentation controls. The attack can be executed through unspecified input vectors, suggesting that the vulnerability exists across multiple entry points within the application's XML processing functionality. The privilege escalation aspect means that attackers can access files and resources that are normally restricted to the application's execution context, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or system information.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-35532 extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates a multi-vector attack platform that can compromise entire network infrastructures. Organizations using affected Intersec Geosafe-ea versions face significant risks including unauthorized data access, system reconnaissance, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The DoS component of this vulnerability can be exploited to disrupt critical services, causing operational downtime and potentially financial losses. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and script interpretation, as well as T1566.001 for social engineering through spearphishing. The ability to perform arbitrary file reads creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks, while the SSRF capability enables network mapping and internal service discovery that can lead to further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-35532 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with the vendor-provided security updates. Organizations must implement strict XML parser configurations that disable external entity resolution and DTD processing entirely, as recommended by the OWASP XML Security Guidelines. Input validation and sanitization should be enforced at all levels of the application stack, with proper encoding of XML content to prevent malicious entity injection. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual XML processing patterns or outbound network requests. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of XML processing within their applications, as similar vulnerabilities may exist in other components. Regular security testing including XML injection testing should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from emerging in future releases. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating security policies to ensure proper handling of XML data, with specific controls for external entity management and XML parser configuration.