CVE-2019-3773 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2019-3773, also known as Spring Web Services XML External Entity Injection (XXE), is a vulnerability that affects certain versions of Spring Web Services.

Understanding CVE-2019-3773

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability related to XML External Entity Injection (XXE) in Spring Web Services.

What is CVE-2019-3773?

The vulnerability in versions 2.4.3, 3.0.4, and earlier unsupported versions of Spring Web Services allows for XXE when receiving XML data from untrusted sources.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3773

This vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, server-side request forgery (SSRF), or denial of service (DoS) attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3773

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the handling of XML data in affected versions of Spring Web Services, enabling malicious entities to exploit XXE.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Spring
Product: Spring Web Services
Affected Versions:
Version 3.0: Less than v3.0.4.RELEASE
Version 2.4: Less than v2.4.3.RELEASE

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious XML entities into the application, potentially leading to various security risks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-3773 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected versions to the patched releases provided by the vendor.
Implement input validation to prevent malicious XML input.
Restrict XML processing to trusted sources only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software components for security patches.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security patches and updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation.