CVE-1999-1372 in Remote Management
Summary
by MITRE
Triactive Remote Manager with Basic authentication enabled stores the username and password in cleartext in registry keys, which could allow local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-1999-1372 pertains to the Triactive Remote Manager software which employs basic authentication mechanisms for access control. This particular flaw represents a critical security oversight in how authentication credentials are stored and managed within the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the registry storage mechanism where user credentials are maintained in an unencrypted format, creating a significant attack surface for local users who might exploit this weakness. The fundamental issue lies in the software's failure to implement proper credential protection measures, violating established security principles for authentication data handling. This flaw demonstrates a clear lack of adherence to security best practices in credential storage management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the software's decision to store authentication credentials in registry keys using plain text encoding without any form of encryption or obfuscation. When basic authentication is enabled, the system creates registry entries that contain both the username and password in readable format, making these sensitive data elements immediately accessible to any local user with sufficient privileges to read the registry. This approach directly contravenes the principle of least privilege and fails to meet the security requirements outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks. The registry keys serve as persistent storage locations where authentication information is maintained, and their cleartext nature provides attackers with immediate access to valid credentials. This flaw represents a classic case of insecure credential storage as categorized under CWE-522, which specifically addresses insufficiently protected credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables local users to escalate their privileges within the system. Once an attacker gains access to these cleartext credentials, they can authenticate to the Triactive Remote Manager service with valid user credentials, potentially gaining unauthorized access to network resources and system functionalities. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability allows attackers to move laterally within the network environment, potentially compromising additional systems and data repositories. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where local access is possible, as it does not require network-based attacks or complex exploitation techniques. The impact is compounded by the fact that these credentials may have elevated privileges, potentially enabling attackers to access sensitive system components or administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental flaw in credential storage mechanisms. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper encryption for registry entries containing authentication information, ensuring that credentials are never stored in cleartext format. System administrators should disable basic authentication where possible and implement more secure authentication mechanisms such as digest authentication or certificate-based authentication. Additionally, implementing strict access controls on registry keys containing sensitive information can help limit the exposure of these credentials to unauthorized local users. The remediation approach should align with established security frameworks and guidelines, particularly those addressing credential management and access control. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other systems and applications. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper security architecture design, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls throughout the system lifecycle rather than relying on single points of failure like insecure credential storage mechanisms.