Critical XXE Injection Vulnerability in libtwelvemonkeys-java: Exploitable XML Parser Flaw
Summary
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-23792: The package com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata before 3.7.1 are vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) Injection due to an insecurely initialized XML parser for reading XMP Metadata. Affects libtwelvemonkeys-java versions 3.3.2-2. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
libtwelvemonkeys-java is a Java library that provides support for reading and writing various image formats, including metadata handling for images. It is widely used in applications that require image processing capabilities. However, prior to version 3.7.1, the library contained a significant vulnerability related to its XML parser, which was insecurely initialized for reading XMP metadata. This flaw exposes applications utilizing this library to potential XML External Entity (XXE) injection attacks.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability arises from the insecure initialization of the XML parser used by the com.twelvemonkeys.imageio:imageio-metadata package before version 3.7.1. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by supplying a malicious file containing harmful XMP metadata. If the application processes this file, the XXE vulnerability is triggered, potentially allowing the attacker to access sensitive data or execute arbitrary code on the server. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.3, indicating a high level of risk.
How To Fix
No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.
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Workaround
As a temporary workaround, applications can disable the processing of XMP metadata or implement strict validation of the input files to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. However, this is not a substitute for applying the necessary updates.
Conclusion
The XXE injection vulnerability in libtwelvemonkeys-java poses a significant risk to applications that utilize this library for image processing. It is crucial for developers and system administrators to update to the latest version to mitigate this risk and ensure the security of their applications.
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FAQ
XXE injection is a type of attack that allows an attacker to interfere with the processing of XML data. It can lead to the disclosure of confidential data, denial of service, or even remote code execution.
You can check if your application is affected by using Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. You can use the Vulert playground to analyze your manifest file without any signup.
If immediate updates are not possible, consider implementing workarounds such as disabling XMP metadata processing or validating input files to mitigate the risk.
Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, exploitation of the server, and potential data breaches.
Detailed information about this vulnerability can be found in the official Ubuntu security notices and the CVE database.
References
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