CVE-2013-6408: Solr core XML Injection Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-45w3-2hvv-pfxq
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CWE-91
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2013-6408 is a MODERATE xml injection vulnerability (CWE-91: XML Injection (aka Blind XPath Injection)) affecting Solr core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves xml injection in apache solr. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 4.3.1.

CVE-2013-6408 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2013-6408
GHSA Identifier GHSA-45w3-2hvv-pfxq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification CWE-91: XML Injection (aka Blind XPath Injection)
Affected Product Solr core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2013-6408

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Solr core dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.solr:solr-core fixed: 4.3.1 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.solr</groupId>
    <artifactId>solr-core</artifactId>
    <version>4.3.1</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2013-6408, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Solr core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 4.3.1), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-91: XML Injection (aka Blind XPath Injection), where the product does not properly neutralize special elements that are used in xml, allowing attackers to modify the syntax, content, or commands of the xml before it is processed by an end system. In Solr core, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

The DocumentAnalysisRequestHandler in Apache Solr before 4.3.1 does not properly use the EmptyEntityResolver, which allows remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via XML data containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2013-6407.

CVE-2013-6408 Affected Solr core Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
4.3.1
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.solr:solr-core
maven/org.apache.solr/solr-core
Maven
< 4.3.1
4.3.1

References

NVD — CVE-2013-6408 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6408
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/lucene-solr/commit/7239a57a51ea0f4d05dd330ce5e15e4f72f72747
Solr core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/lucene-solr
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/solr-48... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SOLR-4881
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2013-18... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1844.html
rhn.redhat.com/errata/rhsa-2014-00... WEB
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-0029.html
svn.apache.org/viewvc/lucene/dev/b... WEB
http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/lucene/dev/branches/branch_4x/solr/CHANGES.txt?view=markup
Solr core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/11/29/2

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2013-6408?
CVE-2013-6408 is a security vulnerability in Solr core involving XML Injection in Apache Solr under CWE-91: XML Injection (aka Blind XPath Injection).
Which Solr core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 4.3.1 across affected packages: org.apache.solr:solr-core.
What version fixes CVE-2013-6408?
Upgrading to 4.3.1 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is solr-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.solr:solr-core is affected in releases prior to 4.3.1. Upgrade your dependency to 4.3.1 or later.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2013-6408?
CVE-2013-6408 is classified under CWE-91: XML Injection (aka Blind XPath Injection) (The product does not properly neutralize special elements that are used in XML, allowing attackers to modify the syntax, content, or commands of the XML before it is processed by an end system.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2013-6408?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-45w3-2hvv-pfxq",
  "modified" : "2024-03-05T00:06:44Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T04:39:49Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2013-6408" ],
  "summary" : "XML Injection in Apache Solr",
  "details" : "The DocumentAnalysisRequestHandler in Apache Solr before 4.3.1 does not properly use the EmptyEntityResolver, which allows remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via XML data containing an external entity declaration in conjunction with an entity reference, related to an XML External Entity (XXE) issue.  NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2013-6407.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.solr:solr-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "4.3.1"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6408"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/lucene-solr/commit/7239a57a51ea0f4d05dd330ce5e15e4f72f72747"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/lucene-solr"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SOLR-4881"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-1844.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-0029.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://svn.apache.org/viewvc/lucene/dev/branches/branch_4x/solr/CHANGES.txt?view=markup"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/11/29/2"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-91" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-07-07T23:22:41Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2013-12-07T20:55:00Z"
  }
}