CVE-2002-2384 in Hotfoon
Summary
by MITRE
hotfoon4.exe in Hotfoon 4.00 stores user names and passwords in cleartext in the hotfoon2 registry key, which allows local users to gain access to user accounts and steal phone service.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2384 resides within the hotfoon4.exe component of Hotfoon 4.00 software, representing a critical security flaw that compromises user authentication credentials through improper data storage mechanisms. This issue manifests in the persistent storage of sensitive authentication information in an unencrypted format within the Windows registry, specifically within the hotfoon2 registry key. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in credential management and highlights the dangers of storing confidential data in easily accessible locations without adequate protection measures.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's failure to employ proper encryption or obfuscation techniques when storing user credentials. Instead of utilizing secure storage mechanisms or cryptographic protection, the software directly writes usernames and passwords in plain text format to the registry, making them immediately accessible to any local user with sufficient privileges. This cleartext storage approach violates fundamental security principles and creates an attack surface that adversaries can exploit without requiring advanced techniques or specialized tools. The registry key serves as a persistent storage location that remains accessible across system reboots and user sessions, ensuring that compromised credentials remain available for unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables unauthorized users to gain legitimate access to user accounts and potentially exploit phone service resources. Local attackers who can access the system can easily retrieve stored credentials and use them to authenticate to the targeted services, effectively bypassing normal authentication mechanisms. This compromise can lead to unauthorized phone usage, billing fraud, and potential escalation of privileges within the affected system. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share the same system or where local access is not properly restricted, creating widespread potential for abuse.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a classic example of insecure credential storage practices that have been consistently identified as high-risk security flaws in software development. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003 (Credentials from Password Stores) and demonstrates how local privilege escalation can lead to broader system compromise. The flaw also relates to T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it enables unauthorized access through legitimate user credentials, bypassing normal authentication controls and potentially allowing for further lateral movement within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates or patches provided by the vendor, as well as implementing proper access controls to limit local user privileges. Organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of registry entries to identify and remove any stored cleartext credentials, while implementing proper credential management practices that utilize encryption or secure storage mechanisms. System administrators should enforce strict access controls on registry keys containing sensitive information and consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to these locations. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems, ensuring that credential storage practices meet modern security standards and prevent similar flaws from occurring in the future.