CVE-2000-1008 in Palm
Summary
by MITRE
PalmOS 3.5.2 and earlier uses weak encryption to store the user password, which allows attackers with physical access to the Palm device to decrypt the password and gain access to the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1008 represents a critical security flaw in PalmOS versions 3.5.2 and earlier that fundamentally undermines the device's authentication mechanisms. This weakness stems from the implementation of insufficient cryptographic practices within the operating system's password storage mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized access that bypasses traditional security controls. The vulnerability specifically targets the encryption algorithm used to protect user passwords stored on Palm devices, making it particularly dangerous given the physical access requirements typically needed for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the use of weak encryption algorithms that lack proper cryptographic strength and security properties. PalmOS employed a simplified encryption scheme that did not meet industry standards for password protection, allowing attackers with physical access to reverse-engineer the stored password through relatively straightforward decryption techniques. This weakness directly maps to CWE-326, which addresses the use of weak encryption algorithms, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues related to key management and algorithm selection. The implementation fails to provide adequate entropy and cryptographic strength necessary to resist brute force or reverse engineering attacks that could be executed by an attacker with physical possession of the device.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-1008 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass broader privacy and data security implications for Palm device users. When an attacker gains physical access to a Palm device, they can exploit this vulnerability to extract user credentials and subsequently access sensitive information stored on the device. This includes personal data, calendar entries, contact information, and potentially confidential business data that users might store on their Palm devices. The vulnerability creates a scenario where physical security measures become insufficient to protect against determined attackers, as the device's own security mechanisms fail to provide meaningful protection for stored credentials. This weakness is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Palm devices might be used to store sensitive corporate information.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires only physical access to the target device, making it accessible to a wide range of potential attackers including casual adversaries, insiders, or those with opportunistic access to lost or stolen devices. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213, which covers data from information repositories, as the attacker can extract credentials from the device's storage without requiring network access or sophisticated attack infrastructure. Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability are limited by the age of the affected systems and the inherent design flaw in the encryption implementation. Users should upgrade to newer PalmOS versions that implement stronger encryption algorithms, while organizations should consider implementing additional physical security controls and device management policies to reduce the risk of unauthorized physical access. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the need for robust encryption standards even in embedded systems and mobile devices.