CVE-2019-17637 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Eclipse Web Tools Platform versions 1.0 to 3.18 were vulnerable to an exploit allowing the transmission of local file contents to a remote server through XML and DTD files referencing external entities.

Understanding CVE-2019-17637

Until the release of Eclipse Web Tools Platform 3.18, a security vulnerability existed that could be exploited through XML and DTD files.

What is CVE-2019-17637?

This CVE refers to the improper restriction of XML External Entity Reference (XXE) in Eclipse Web Tools Platform versions 1.0 to 3.18.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17637

The vulnerability allowed malicious actors to transmit local file contents to a remote server, bypassing user preferences that disabled external entity resolution.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17637

Eclipse Web Tools Platform vulnerability details.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Eclipse Web Tools Platform versions 1.0 to 3.18 allowed for the exploitation of XML and DTD files to send local file contents to a remote server.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Eclipse Web Tools Platform
Vendor: The Eclipse Foundation
Versions: 1.0 to 3.18

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploit involved manipulating XML and DTD files that referenced external entities to extract and transmit local file contents.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-17637.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Eclipse Web Tools Platform to version 3.18 or later.
Implement strict input validation to prevent XXE attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software for security patches.
Educate users on safe coding practices to prevent XXE vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches to mitigate the risk of XXE vulnerabilities.