CVE-2018-11761 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2018-11761 was published on September 19, 2018, and affects Apache Tika versions 0.1 to 1.18. The vulnerability is related to XML entity expansion, potentially leading to denial of service attacks.

Understanding CVE-2018-11761

From a lack of entity expansion configuration in Apache Tika XML parsers, this vulnerability exposes systems to denial of service risks.

What is CVE-2018-11761?

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in Apache Tika versions 0.1 to 1.18, where XML parsers lacked entity expansion restrictions, making them vulnerable to denial of service attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11761

The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit entity expansion in XML parsers, potentially causing denial of service attacks on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11761

Apache Tika version 0.1 to 1.18 is susceptible to the following:

Vulnerability Description

The XML parsers in Apache Tika did not have proper configuration to limit entity expansion, exposing them to denial of service risks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Apache Tika
Vendor: Apache Software Foundation
Versions Affected: 0.1 to 1.18

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the lack of entity expansion restrictions in XML parsers to launch denial of service attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-11761, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Apache Tika to a patched version that addresses the entity expansion vulnerability.
Implement network-level protections to mitigate denial of service risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update software components to prevent vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Apache Software Foundation to fix the entity expansion vulnerability in Apache Tika.