CVE-2021-1628 : Security Advisory and Response

MuleSoft has identified a critical XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in certain versions of the Mule runtime, affecting CloudHub and on-premise customers. The vulnerability affects Mule 4.x runtimes released before February 2, 2021.

Understanding CVE-2021-1628

This section provides insights into the CVE-2021-1628 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-1628?

The CVE-2021-1628 is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in MuleSoft affecting Mule 4.x runtimes released before February 2, 2021.

The Impact of CVE-2021-1628

The vulnerability may allow attackers to exploit XML entities in an XML document, leading to sensitive information disclosure, server-side request forgery (SSRF), or denial of service (DoS) attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-1628

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-1628.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to improper processing of XML data in specific Mule runtime versions, enabling malicious entities to access sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mule 4.x runtimes released before February 2, 2021 are susceptible to this XXE vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by crafting malicious XML payloads to trigger unintended actions in the application.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here, we discuss strategies to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2021-1628.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Mule runtime to a patched version released after February 2, 2021
Implement strict input validation to mitigate XXE attacks

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories from MuleSoft and apply patches promptly
Conduct security audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively

Patching and Updates

Install security patches provided by MuleSoft to address the XXE vulnerability
Keep Mule runtimes up to date with the latest releases to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities