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CVE-2016-2908: IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 Firmware: XML external entity injection

CVE-2016-2908 is rated critical with a CVSS v3.0 base score of 9.1 and NVD lists 3 affected products, including IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 Firmware. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication, without any user interaction.

Vulnerability description

IBM Single Sign On for Bluemix could allow a remote attacker to obtain sensitive information, caused by a XML external entity (XXE) error when processing XML data by the XML parser. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to read arbitrary files on the system or cause a denial of service.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v3.0 9.1: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

Attack vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network, with no need for local or physical access.
Attack complexity: Low. No special conditions; the attack can be repeated reliably.
Privileges required: None. No account or prior access is needed.
User interaction: None. No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Unchanged. Impact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality impact: High. Total loss of confidentiality; sensitive data can be fully disclosed.
Integrity impact: None. No loss of integrity.
Availability impact: High. Total loss of availability; the component can be shut down.

Underlying weakness

CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference

The product processes an XML document that can contain XML entities with URIs that resolve to documents outside of the intended sphere of control, causing the product to embed incorrect documents into its output.

Affected products

IBM Security Access Manager 9.0 Firmware: 9.0.0; 9.0.0.1; 9.0.1.0
IBM Security Access Manager For Mobile 8.0 Firmware: 8.0.0.1; 8.0.0.2; 8.0.0.3; 8.0.0.5; 8.0.1.0; 8.0.1.2; 8.0.1.3; 8.0.1.4
IBM Security Access Manager For Web 8.0 Firmware: 8.0.0.1; 8.0.0.2; 8.0.0.3; 8.0.0.5; 8.0.1.0; 8.0.1.2; 8.0.1.3; 8.0.1.4