CVE-2019-9757 Scanner

LabKey Server is a platform used primarily by research scientists and IT professionals in the life sciences field for integrating, analyzing, and managing scientific data in a secure, compliant environment. It enables users to share and collaborate on data effectively within research teams. The server is widely implemented in medical research institutions and biotechnology companies where vast amounts of experimental data require centralized storage and access. Its integrated platform facilitates data-driven decision-making by providing a structured and accessible format for complex data sets. Additionally, LabKey Server supports various types of data, including genomics, clinical datasets, and assay data, enhancing its usability across diverse research applications. Organizations favor it for its robust set of tools for data capture, analysis, and visualization, coupled with its strong emphasis on security and compliance standards.

The XML External Entity (XXE) vulnerability occurs when an application processes malformed XML input containing a reference to an external entity. This particular vulnerability within LabKey Server 19.1.0 is a result of inadequate validation of user-supplied XML data via endpoints such as visualization-exportImage.view and visualization-exportPDF.view. XXE vulnerabilities can allow arbitrary file access, leading to potential data breaches or information disclosure. The CVE-2019-9757 showcases the potential for reading unauthorized local files, providing unintended access and possibly leading to sensitive data leakage. This vulnerability underscores the importance of sufficient XML parsing and validation measures to prevent exploitation. Attackers could leverage this flaw to compromise the confidentiality of the server by accessing and extracting sensitive information.

The vulnerability in LabKey Server leverages weaknesses in XML parsing and allows hostile external entities to be processed without restriction. A common target endpoint for exploiting this vulnerability is visualization-exportPDF.view, where impacted SVG files can be submitted. The vulnerability works by sending a crafted SVG containing an XXE payload, which forces the server to attempt fetching and parse local files. As outlined in the CVE, an attempt to access the file path "/etc/passwd" demonstrates its capacity to read system files. The process occurs in multiple phases, beginning with the acquisition of a CSRF token followed by submitting the crafted request. Security checks are circumvented due to inadequate input validation, allowing these dangerous operations to proceed. Though LabKey attempted mitigations, the absence of robust validation mechanisms allows this vulnerability to persist.

Exploiting this vulnerability could have severe implications for affected systems. An attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files, user credentials, or other confidential information stored on the server. Successful exploitation might result in an extensive data breach, with sensitive data exposure leading to possible reputation damage or financial loss for affected organizations. Loss of competitive research data could occur, potentially leading to regulatory consequences, particularly if personal data is involved. Additionally, hostile actors might gain insights into the infrastructure or environment, enabling further targeted attacks. Organizations using LabKey Server should prioritize rectifying this vulnerability to avert significant security and privacy issues.

REFERENCES

• https://rhinosecuritylabs.com/application-security/labkey-server-vulnerabilities-to-rce
• https://github.com/LabKey/Issues/issues/37636
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-9757