CVE-2000-0058 in Visor Network HotSync
Summary
by MITRE
Network HotSync program in Handspring Visor does not have authentication, which allows remote attackers to retrieve email and files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0058 represents a critical security flaw in the Network HotSync program of Handspring Visor devices, which were popular personal digital assistants during the late 1990s and early 2000s. This weakness stems from the complete absence of authentication mechanisms within the network synchronization protocol, creating an exploitable gap that allows unauthorized remote access to sensitive data stored on these mobile devices. The Handspring Visor operating system, which was based on the Palm OS architecture, implemented a network communication interface that failed to validate user credentials or establish secure connections before permitting data transfer operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-305, which addresses authentication failures in applications, and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the security design of the synchronization protocol. The Network HotSync program operates over TCP/IP networks and utilizes a proprietary protocol that lacks any form of cryptographic authentication or access control validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by connecting to the device's network interface and initiating synchronization requests without requiring valid user credentials, effectively bypassing all access controls that should normally protect the device's data. This vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically targeting the synchronization service that enables data exchange between the handheld device and desktop computers or network servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it allows remote attackers to extract confidential information including email messages, calendar entries, contact lists, and other personal data stored on the Visor device. The attack can be executed from any location with network access to the device, making it particularly dangerous for users who synchronize their devices over unsecured networks or public Wi-Fi connections. This vulnerability effectively renders the device's data protection mechanisms ineffective, as the synchronization process becomes a backdoor for data exfiltration. The lack of authentication means that even if a device is physically secured, the network synchronization feature provides an unauthenticated access point that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The security implications extend beyond simple data theft, as this vulnerability could enable more sophisticated attacks including man-in-the-middle operations, session hijacking, and potential device compromise. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, and T1566 for phishing attacks that could leverage stolen data. Organizations and individuals using these devices were particularly vulnerable in enterprise environments where synchronization over corporate networks could provide attackers with access to sensitive business information. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing proper authentication mechanisms in network services, even for devices that may not be considered high-risk targets. Mitigation strategies would have included disabling network synchronization features, implementing network segmentation, or applying firmware updates that introduced authentication requirements, though such updates were often limited due to the age of the platform and the discontinuation of support for these devices.