CVE-2019-4391 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

HCL AppScan Standard is vulnerable to an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data.

Understanding CVE-2019-4391

HCL AppScan Standard Edition is affected by a vulnerability that allows for XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attacks.

What is CVE-2019-4391?

CVE-2019-4391 is a vulnerability in HCL AppScan Standard that can be exploited through XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2019-4391

The vulnerability in HCL AppScan Standard can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, server-side request forgery (SSRF), and potential information disclosure.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-4391

HCL AppScan Standard Edition is susceptible to XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attacks.

Vulnerability Description

When processing XML data, HCL AppScan Standard can be exploited through an XML External Entity Injection (XXE) attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: HCL AppScan Standard Edition
Versions Affected: HCL AppScan Standard versions 9.x and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate XML input to access local or remote content, potentially leading to data theft or server compromise.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to secure systems and prevent exploitation of CVE-2019-4391.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update HCL AppScan Standard to a non-vulnerable version.
Implement input validation to sanitize XML input.
Monitor and restrict external XML entities in XML documents.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by HCL to mitigate the CVE-2019-4391 vulnerability.