CVE-2002-2412 in WinAmp
Summary
by MITRE
Winamp 2.80 stores authentication credentials in plaintext in the (1) [HTTP-AUTH] and (2) [winamp] sections in winamp.ini, which allows local users to gain access to other accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2412 represents a critical security flaw in Winamp version 2.80 that demonstrates poor credential storage practices and insufficient access controls. This issue stems from the application's configuration file handling mechanism where authentication credentials are persistently stored in plain text format rather than being properly encrypted or hashed. The vulnerability specifically affects the winamp.ini configuration file which contains two distinct sections [HTTP-AUTH] and [winamp] that store sensitive authentication information in an easily readable format. This design flaw fundamentally violates basic security principles and creates a significant attack surface for local adversaries who can exploit the plaintext storage to obtain unauthorized access to other user accounts. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in credential storage practices that directly relates to CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper storage of credentials. The issue is particularly concerning because it allows local users to gain unauthorized access to other accounts without requiring any network connectivity or complex exploitation techniques, making it an easily exploitable privilege escalation vector. The security implications extend beyond simple credential theft as this vulnerability enables lateral movement within the local system and potentially provides access to additional resources or services that may be protected by the compromised credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to implement proper encryption or obfuscation mechanisms for storing authentication credentials in the configuration file. When Winamp processes user authentication information for HTTP servers or other network services, it directly writes these credentials to the winamp.ini file without any form of cryptographic protection or encoding. This plaintext storage approach creates a persistent security risk that remains active even when the application is not running, allowing attackers to access the stored credentials at any time. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the local system level where attackers may already have access to the file system and can read the configuration file without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and demonstrates a lack of understanding of basic security principles regarding credential handling and storage. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized access to network resources, potentially leading to further compromise of the system or network, and represents a classic example of insecure data storage practices that can be exploited through simple file system access. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that multiple authentication contexts are affected, including both HTTP authentication and general Winamp configuration credentials, increasing the potential impact of the vulnerability.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-2412 extends beyond simple credential theft and can enable more sophisticated attack scenarios including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and persistent access to network resources. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can gain access to accounts that may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive network services, potentially allowing them to compromise entire network segments or systems. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to organizations that may have multiple users accessing shared systems where credential sharing or reuse occurs, as the plaintext storage approach makes it trivial for any local user to obtain credentials for other accounts. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003, which covers credentials from password stores, and demonstrates how insecure credential storage can lead to broader compromise scenarios. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by its persistence characteristics, as the stored credentials remain accessible even after system reboots or application restarts, creating a long-term security risk. Organizations should consider implementing additional controls such as file system permissions, regular security audits, and credential rotation practices to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. The flaw also highlights the importance of proper application security design and the necessity of following established security frameworks and standards that address credential management and storage best practices. This vulnerability serves as a historical example of how simple design oversights can create significant security risks and emphasizes the critical importance of implementing robust security controls from the initial development phases of software applications.