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The advisory addresses a collection of static code analysis warnings discovered within the DotNetNuke.Core codebase. These warnings are not a single vulnerability but rather a set of insecure coding patterns flagged by Microsoft’s Roslyn analyzers. The core issues revolve around unsafe XML processing and the use of weak or broken cryptographic algorithms. Specifically, rules CA3075, CA5366, CA5371, CA5368, CA5369, and CA5372 all highlight instances where XML data is parsed without an `XmlReader` or with Document Type Definition (DTD) processing enabled. When an application parses untrusted XML with DTD processing active, an attacker can exploit it to perform XML External Entity (XXE) injection attacks. This can lead to denial of service via “XML bombs,” local file disclosure by forcing the parser to read arbitrary files, or server-side request forgery (SSRF) to scan internal networks. The remaining rules—CA5379, CA5350, and CA5351—point to the use of weak cryptographic primitives. This includes the default SHA1 algorithm in the `Rfc2898DeriveBytes` key derivation function, as well as broken hashing functions like MD5 and weak encryption algorithms like TripleDES, DES, and RC2. If an attacker can influence the data protected by these weak algorithms, they could potentially perform cryptanalysis, such as collision attacks on MD5 or brute-force attacks on DES, to compromise confidentiality or integrity. The root cause is the lack of secure configuration defaults for XML parsers and cryptographic routines within the DNN Platform’s core libraries. While not directly exploitable in all contexts, these patterns represent a significant increase in the application’s attack surface and can serve as stepping stones for more severe, chained attacks. A successful attack would require an attacker to supply a malicious XML document to an unsuspecting XML processor or to intercept and downgrade a cryptographic operation that relies on a weak algorithm. The cumulative effect of these issues lowers the overall security posture of the DotNetNuke Platform.
dailycve form:
Platform: .NET Framework
Version: DNN Platform <10.2.2
Vulnerability: XXE & Weak Crypto
Severity: Low
date: 2026-04-13
Prediction: 2026-04-15
What Undercode Say:
Check DNN version via database or filesystem
SELECT SettingValue FROM HostSettings WHERE SettingName = 'Version';
or inspect web.config / Install/Version.txt
Use PowerShell to find XML parsers without XmlReader
Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Filter .cs | Select-String -Pattern "XPathDocument\s(" -Context 0,0
.NET code to safely set DTD processing on XmlReader
$settings = New-Object System.Xml.XmlReaderSettings
$settings.DtdProcessing = [System.Xml.DtdProcessing]::Prohibit
$settings.XmlResolver = $null
$reader = [System.Xml.XmlReader]::Create($xmlStream, $settings)
Exploit:
A malicious XML payload can be submitted to any DotNetNuke endpoint that processes XML input (e.g., web services, custom modules). The attacker injects an external entity to read local files or perform network reconnaissance. For weak crypto, an attacker with access to ciphertext can perform cryptanalysis to recover plaintext or forge signatures.
Protection from this CVE:
Update DNN Platform to version 10.2.2 or later. Enforce secure coding guidelines: always use `XmlReader` with DTD processing disabled (Prohibit) and `XmlResolver` set to null. Replace weak algorithms: use `SHA256` in `Rfc2898DeriveBytes` and migrate from MD5/DES to SHA256/AES-256. Regularly run static analysis (Roslyn, SonarQube) to detect regressions.
Impact:
Successful XXE can lead to remote file read, denial of service, SSRF, and potentially lateral movement. Weak crypto could allow an attacker to break data confidentiality, compromise session tokens, or forge authentication cookies, leading to account takeover or data breaches.
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Sources:
Reported By: github.com
Extra Source Hub:
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