CVE-2002-1284 in KGPG
Summary
by MITRE
The wizard in KGPG 0.6 through 0.8.2 does not properly provide the passphrase to gpg when creating new keys, which causes secret keys to be created with an empty passphrase and allows local attackers to steal the keys if they can be read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1284 affects KGPG versions 0.6 through 0.8.2, exposing a critical flaw in the key management wizard component that directly impacts cryptographic security. This issue stems from improper handling of passphrase transmission during the key generation process, creating a fundamental weakness in the software's cryptographic implementation. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insecure credential management where the system fails to properly secure sensitive information during critical operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the wizard component's failure to correctly pass the user-provided passphrase to the underlying gpg encryption tool when generating new cryptographic keys. This misconfiguration results in secret keys being created with empty passphrases, effectively removing any password protection that should normally secure the private key material. The root cause aligns with CWE-259, which addresses weak password management, and CWE-320, concerning weaknesses in password storage and handling. The flaw operates at the interface between the graphical user interface and the cryptographic backend, where insufficient input validation and parameter passing occur.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe attack surface that allows local adversaries to exploit the improperly configured keys. Attackers who can access the system where the keys were generated can simply read the secret keys without any authentication requirements, effectively nullifying the cryptographic protection that should prevent unauthorized access. This scenario directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers unsecured credentials, and T1003.002, involving credential dumping from the Windows system. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to full cryptographic key compromise, potentially enabling attackers to impersonate users, decrypt sensitive communications, and perform man-in-the-middle attacks on encrypted data.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate key theft to broader cryptographic system integrity issues. When secret keys lack proper passphrase protection, they become immediately accessible to any local user or process with file system access, creating a persistent security risk that remains active until the compromised keys are manually replaced. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation practices and the dangers of inadequate input handling in security-sensitive applications. Organizations using affected KGPG versions face significant risk of credential compromise and potential data breaches, particularly in environments where local privilege escalation or unauthorized system access is possible. The remediation requires immediate software updates to patched versions or manual key replacement procedures to address the compromised cryptographic material.
The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper software security testing, particularly in cryptographic applications where input handling directly impacts security outcomes. It serves as a reminder that even seemingly simple user interface components can contain critical security flaws that undermine the entire cryptographic system. The flaw also emphasizes the need for comprehensive security reviews of all components that interface with cryptographic libraries and the importance of proper parameter validation and transmission in security-sensitive contexts.