CVE-2002-2069 in PGP
Summary
by MITRE
PGP 6.x and 7.x does not clear Windows alternate data streams that are attached to files on NTFS file systems, which allows attackers to recover sensitive information that was supposed to be deleted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2069 represents a critical data exposure issue affecting PGP versions 6.x and 7.x when operating on NTFS file systems. This flaw stems from the improper handling of Windows alternate data streams during file deletion processes, creating a persistent security risk that extends beyond traditional file removal mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the Windows NTFS file system's unique feature that allows multiple data streams to be associated with a single file, where primary data streams contain the main file content while alternate data streams can store additional metadata or hidden data.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in PGP's failure to properly sanitize all data streams associated with files during the deletion process. When PGP encrypts and subsequently deletes files on NTFS systems, it only removes the primary data stream while leaving alternate data streams intact. These alternate streams can contain sensitive information such as file metadata, temporary encryption keys, or other confidential data that was never actually deleted from the system. This behavior creates a persistent data exposure that persists even after files appear to be removed from the file system, violating fundamental security assumptions about data destruction and privacy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data recovery, as it enables sophisticated attackers to reconstruct sensitive information that should have been permanently deleted. An attacker with access to the affected system can exploit this weakness by using Windows command-line tools or specialized utilities to enumerate and extract the alternate data streams, thereby recovering encrypted files or their contents even after the primary deletion process has completed. This creates a significant risk for organizations handling sensitive data, as the vulnerability undermines the confidentiality assurances provided by PGP encryption and can lead to data breaches through indirect recovery methods.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) categories, as it involves the unintended exposure of confidential information through improper data handling. The attack surface aligns with ATT&CK technique T1567.002 (Exfiltration Over Web Service) and T1070.004 (File Deletion) where adversaries can leverage system-level file handling flaws to recover deleted information. Organizations utilizing PGP for data protection face increased risk of information disclosure, particularly in environments where regulatory compliance requires secure data destruction, such as healthcare, financial services, or government sectors. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of understanding file system characteristics and their interaction with security tools, as it highlights the gap between application-level security measures and underlying operating system capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper file system sanitization procedures that account for alternate data streams, including updating to newer versions of PGP that address this specific flaw, implementing additional data sanitization steps beyond standard deletion, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access to file system artifacts. System administrators should also consider implementing file system-level controls that prevent the creation of alternate data streams for sensitive data or ensure that all data streams are properly cleared during deletion operations to prevent this type of indirect information recovery.