CVE-2017-14949: Org.restlet Restlet Framework Allows Remote Attackers Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-cvj4-g3gx-8vqq
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-611
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2017-14949 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) restlet framework allows remote attackers vulnerability (CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) affecting Org.restlet libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves restlet framework allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a crafted rest api http request. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.3.12.

CVE-2017-14949 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2017-14949
GHSA Identifier GHSA-cvj4-g3gx-8vqq
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference
Affected Product Org.restlet
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2017-14949

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Org.restlet 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.restlet.jse:org.restlet fixed: 2.3.12 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.restlet.jse</groupId>
    <artifactId>org.restlet</artifactId>
    <version>2.3.12</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.restlet.jse

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2017-14949, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.restlet.jse

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Org.restlet in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.3.12), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.restlet.jse 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-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, where 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. In Org.restlet, 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

Restlet Framework before 2.3.12 allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a crafted REST API HTTP request that conducts an XXE attack, because only general external entities (not parameter external entities) are properly considered. This is related to XmlRepresentation, DOMRepresentation, SaxRepresentation, and JacksonRepresentation.

CVE-2017-14949 Affected Org.restlet Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
2.3.12
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.restlet.jse:org.restlet
maven/org.restlet.jse/org.restlet
Maven
< 2.3.12
2.3.12

References

NVD — CVE-2017-14949 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-14949
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java/commit/fe75aff3af23b879b984db7a2b6824cee0ef0fc5
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-cvj4-g3gx-8vqq
Org.restlet Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java
GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java/wiki/XEE-security-enhancements
lgtm.com/blog/restlet_cve-20... WEB
https://lgtm.com/blog/restlet_CVE-2017-14949

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2017-14949?
CVE-2017-14949 is a security vulnerability in Org.restlet involving Restlet Framework allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a crafted REST API HTTP request under CWE-611: Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference.
Which Org.restlet versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 2.3.12 across affected packages: org.restlet.jse:org.restlet.
What version fixes CVE-2017-14949?
Upgrading to 2.3.12 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is org.restlet affected?
Yes, org.restlet.jse:org.restlet is affected in releases prior to 2.3.12. Upgrade your dependency to 2.3.12 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2017-14949?
CVE-2017-14949 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2017-14949?
CVE-2017-14949 is classified under 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.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2017-14949?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.restlet.jse'. 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-cvj4-g3gx-8vqq",
  "modified" : "2022-04-26T21:37:05Z",
  "published" : "2018-10-17T00:04:18Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2017-14949" ],
  "summary" : "Restlet Framework allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a crafted REST API HTTP request",
  "details" : "Restlet Framework before 2.3.12 allows remote attackers to access arbitrary files via a crafted REST API HTTP request that conducts an XXE attack, because only general external entities (not parameter external entities) are properly considered. This is related to XmlRepresentation, DOMRepresentation, SaxRepresentation, and JacksonRepresentation.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.restlet.jse:org.restlet"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "2.3.12"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-14949"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java/commit/fe75aff3af23b879b984db7a2b6824cee0ef0fc5"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-cvj4-g3gx-8vqq"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/restlet/restlet-framework-java/wiki/XEE-security-enhancements"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://lgtm.com/blog/restlet_CVE-2017-14949"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-611" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2020-06-16T21:32:56Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}