CVE-2021-42646 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability in the Management Console in WSO2 API Manager, WSO2 IS as Key Manager, and WSO2 Identity Server.

Understanding CVE-2021-42646

What is CVE-2021-42646?

CVE-2021-42646 is an XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability found in the file-based service provider creation feature of the Management Console in several versions of WSO2 products.

The Impact of CVE-2021-42646

This vulnerability allows attackers to gain read access to sensitive information or cause a denial of service through crafted GET requests.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-42646

Vulnerability Description

The XXE vulnerability in the affected versions of WSO2 products enables unauthorized access to sensitive data and can lead to service disruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

WSO2 API Manager: 2.6.0, 3.0.0, 3.1.0, 3.2.0, 4.0.0
WSO2 IS as Key Manager: 5.7.0, 5.9.0, 5.10.0
WSO2 Identity Server: 5.7.0, 5.8.0, 5.9.0, 5.10.0, 5.11.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending specifically crafted GET requests to the Management Console, triggering the XXE to gain unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by WSO2 to fix the XXE vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities indicating XXE exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
Educate employees on the risks of opening attachments or clicking on links from unknown sources.

Patching and Updates

Keep WSO2 products up to date by applying security patches released by the vendor to address known vulnerabilities.