CVE-2002-1946 in Integrated Dialer Software
Summary
by MITRE
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) Integrated Dialer Software 1.2.000, when the "Save Password" option is used, stores the password with a weak encryption scheme (one-to-one mapping) in a registry key, which allows local users to obtain and decrypt the password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1946 represents a critical security flaw in Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited's Integrated Dialer Software version 1.2.000. This issue stems from the software's improper handling of authentication credentials when users opt to save their passwords. The vulnerability resides in the software's registry storage mechanism where passwords are encrypted using a fundamentally weak encryption scheme that operates as a simple one-to-one character mapping. This approach to encryption provides no real security protection and essentially transforms the password storage into a trivially readable format. The weakness manifests when local users with access to the system can directly read the registry entries where these passwords are stored, as the encryption method used offers no meaningful obfuscation of the actual password data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's registry key storage mechanism where user credentials are written in an encrypted format that is easily reversible. The one-to-one mapping encryption scheme essentially creates a substitution cipher where each character in the plaintext password is replaced by a corresponding character in the ciphertext, making the encryption trivial to reverse engineer. This type of encryption weakness falls under the category of inadequate cryptographic implementation as defined by CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak or broken cryptographic algorithms. The vulnerability enables attackers to obtain authentication credentials that could potentially provide access to network resources, systems, or services that require authentication through the dialer software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates a persistent security risk for any system where the affected software is installed. Local users who can access the registry entries can easily extract the stored passwords and decrypt them without requiring specialized tools or significant computational resources. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and provides attackers with unauthorized access to network resources that were intended to be protected by authentication mechanisms. The risk is particularly significant in environments where multiple users share systems or where the dialer software is used to access sensitive network infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it enables unauthorized access through stolen credentials, and T1552 (Unsecured Credentials) as it demonstrates poor credential storage practices that expose authentication data.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and implementation of proper cryptographic practices. Organizations should immediately disable the "Save Password" functionality within the affected dialer software or implement proper encryption mechanisms that use strong cryptographic algorithms such as AES or RSA with appropriate key lengths. The registry entries should be protected through access control lists that limit read permissions to authorized users only, and the system should be configured to use strong encryption standards for credential storage. Security administrators should also implement monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to registry keys containing sensitive information. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks associated with saving passwords in applications and encouraged to use more secure authentication methods such as two-factor authentication or smart cards. The remediation process should include updating the software to a version that implements proper encryption standards, as the original vulnerability stems from a fundamental flaw in the encryption implementation that cannot be adequately mitigated through configuration changes alone.