CVE-2001-1546 in Pathways Homecare
Summary
by MITRE
Pathways Homecare 6.5 uses weak encryption for user names and passwords, which allows local users to gain privileges by recovering the passwords from the pwhc.ini file.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1546 affects Pathways Homecare 6.5 software, a healthcare management system designed for homecare providers. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the application's authentication mechanism that directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user credentials. The vulnerability specifically targets the password storage methodology employed by the software, creating an exploitable weakness that can be leveraged by malicious actors within the local system environment. The affected system stores user authentication information in a configuration file named pwhc.ini, which contains password data in an insecurely encoded format that can be easily recovered by local users.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from the implementation of weak encryption algorithms for password storage within the pwhc.ini configuration file. This approach violates fundamental security principles outlined in cybersecurity best practices and industry standards such as those specified in CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses and improper encryption implementation. The weak encryption mechanism fails to provide adequate protection for sensitive authentication data, making it susceptible to reverse engineering and password recovery attacks. The vulnerability essentially creates a scenario where password hashes or encrypted credentials are stored in a manner that does not meet modern security requirements for credential protection, allowing attackers to easily retrieve plaintext passwords through simple file analysis techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass broader security implications for healthcare environments. Local users who can access the pwhc.ini file can recover passwords and potentially gain unauthorized access to the healthcare management system, which may contain sensitive patient information and medical records. This creates a significant risk for healthcare organizations that must comply with regulations such as HIPAA, as the vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data access and potential privacy breaches. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only local system access, making it accessible to users who already have some level of system presence, potentially including malicious insiders or compromised user accounts.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through the exploitation of weak encryption or password storage mechanisms. This weakness can be leveraged by attackers to establish persistent access to healthcare systems, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as lateral movement within networks or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe in healthcare environments where sensitive patient data is stored, as unauthorized access to such systems can result in serious privacy violations and regulatory compliance issues. Organizations using Pathways Homecare 6.5 should immediately implement mitigations including file access controls, encryption of the pwhc.ini file, and regular security audits to prevent unauthorized access to authentication data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1546 should include immediate implementation of proper file permissions on the pwhc.ini configuration file to restrict access to authorized administrative users only. System administrators should consider implementing stronger encryption mechanisms for password storage, moving away from weak encryption approaches to industry-standard cryptographic methods such as those recommended in NIST guidelines. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weak encryption implementations in other system components. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files and credential storage locations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential management and encryption practices, emphasizing that weak encryption implementations can severely compromise system security even when other security controls are properly implemented.