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This page will describe XPath injection in more detail.

Contents: 

Table of Contents
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XPath Injection (CWE-643)

Info

CWE-643 describes XPath Injection as follows:

“The software uses external input to dynamically construct an XPath expression used to retrieve data from an XML database, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes that input. This allows an attacker to control the structure of the query.”

 

Similar to SQL Injection, XPath Injection attacks occur when a web site uses user-supplied information to construct an XPath query for XML data.

By sending intentionally malformed information into the web site, an attacker can find out how the XML data is structured, or access data that he may not normally have access to. He may even be able to elevate his privileges on the web site if the XML data is being used for authentication (such as an XML based user file).

 

Info

The net effect is that the attacker will have control over the information selected from the XML database and may use that ability to control application flow, modify logic, retrieve unauthorized data, or bypass important checks (e.g. authentication).

 

Querying XML is done with XPath, a type of simple descriptive statement that allows the XML query to locate a piece of information. Like SQL, you can specify certain attributes to find, and patterns to match. When using XML for a web site it is common to accept some form of input on the query string to identify the content to locate and display on the page.

This input must be sanitized to verify that it doesn't mess up the XPath query and return the wrong data.

XPath Injection (CWE-643) coverage by Kiuwan

Info

In Kiuwan, you can search rules covering XPath-Injection (CWE-643) filtering by

  • Vulnerability Type = Injection, and/or
  • CWE tag = CWE:643

 

Kiuwan incorporates next rules for XPath-Injection (CWE-643) for the following languages.

To read more obtain detailed information on the rule, do the following: 

  • Log into your Kiuwan Account
  • Go to Models Management 
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  • Select Rules from the upper menu
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  • Search for the CWE rule in the Tag field
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  • Click on the question mark
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    • A new window will open with more detailed information about the rule
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    functionality, coverage, parameterization, remediation, example codes, etc., follow the same steps as described in CWE-89: SQL Injection

     

    Language

    Rule code

    C#

    OPT.CSHARP.XPathInjection

    Java

    OPT.JAVA.SEC_JAVA.XPathInjectionRule

    Javascript

    OPT.JAVASCRIPT.XPathInjection

    Objective-C

    OPT.OBJECTIVEC.XPathInjection

    PHP

    OPT.PHP.XPathInjection

    Python

    OPT.PYTHON.SECURITY.XpathInjection

    Swift

    OPT.SWIFT.SECURITY.XpathInjection