CVE-2019-10782: XML External Entity (XXE) Processing in com.puppycrawl.tools:checkstyle
Summary
CVE-2019-10782: XML external entity (XXE) processing ('external-parameter-entities' feature was not fully disabled)). Affects com.puppycrawl.tools:checkstyle versions < 8.29. Fixed in 8.29. How to fix ↓
Also tracked for
- checkstyle · Debian:11
The same CVE-2019-10782 is tracked separately for each ecosystem and vendor. Its fix information is the same; the package and affected versions differ.
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Background
com.puppycrawl.tools:checkstyle is an open-source static code analysis tool used for checking Java code against a set of coding standards. It helps identify potential issues and enforce coding best practices. However, it is vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) Processing due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2019-9658.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability in com.puppycrawl.tools:checkstyle allows for XML External Entity (XXE) Processing. This means that an attacker can exploit the application by providing a specially crafted XML file that includes external entities. By manipulating these entities, an attacker can potentially read arbitrary files on the server or perform other malicious actions. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous for sites or services that parse untrusted Checkstyle XML configuration files.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
8.29
This is the first release that contains the fix.
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Workaround
There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability. It is recommended to upgrade to the patched version as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The vulnerability in com.puppycrawl.tools:checkstyle allows for XML External Entity (XXE) Processing, which can be exploited by providing a specially crafted XML file. To fix this vulnerability, users should upgrade to version 8.29 or later. There are no known workarounds, so upgrading is the recommended solution. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for com.puppycrawl.tools:checkstyle →
FAQ
Build maintainers using Maven or Gradle are likely not affected as they typically process trusted files. However, sites or services that parse untrusted Checkstyle XML configuration files are vulnerable and should patch.
You can use Vulert's playground (https://vulert.com/scanner) to check if your application is affected by this vulnerability. Simply provide your pom.xml file and Vulert will analyze it in real-time.
There are no known public exploits for this vulnerability at the time of this report. However, it is important to patch the vulnerability to prevent potential attacks.
No, there are no known workarounds or mitigation techniques for this vulnerability. Upgrading to the patched version is the recommended solution.
You can find more information about this vulnerability in the GitHub issue (https://github.com/checkstyle/checkstyle/issues/7468) and the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE-611) entry (https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/611.html).
References
Related vulnerabilities
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