CVE-2001-0382 in CCC Harvest
Summary
by MITRE
Computer Associates CCC\Harvest 5.0 for Windows NT/2000 uses weak encryption for passwords, which allows a remote attacker to gain privileges on the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-0382 affects Computer Associates CCC Harvest 5.0 software running on Windows NT/2000 operating systems. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the authentication mechanism of the application, specifically related to password encryption implementation. The weakness in the encryption algorithm creates a pathway for unauthorized remote access and privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this software for project management and configuration control.
The technical flaw stems from the use of weak encryption algorithms in the password handling mechanism of the Harvest application. When users authenticate to the system, their passwords are processed through an encryption method that does not provide adequate security protection. This weak encryption approach allows attackers to potentially reverse engineer or bypass the authentication process without legitimate credentials. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application level rather than the operating system level, meaning that even if the underlying OS has strong security measures, the application itself remains vulnerable to exploitation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the Harvest application and potentially escalate their privileges to administrative levels. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it does not require local system access or physical presence, allowing malicious actors to exploit the weakness from anywhere on the network. This creates a significant risk for organizations managing software development projects, configuration management, and change control processes through this application, as unauthorized access could lead to data tampering, unauthorized changes to project configurations, or complete system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the Harvest application, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable system, and strengthening overall network security controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-326, which addresses weak encryption, and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in various industry standards. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access methods, highlighting the need for proper access controls and authentication mechanisms. The weakness also demonstrates the importance of using strong cryptographic algorithms and proper key management practices as outlined in NIST guidelines for secure software development and deployment.