CVE-2003-1276 in NetTelephone
Summary
by MITRE
Netfone.exe of NetTelephone 3.5.6 uses weak encryption for user PIN s and stores user account numbers in plaintext in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MediaRing.com\SDK\NetTelephone\settings registry key, which could allow local users to gain unauthorized access to NetTelephone accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1276 resides within the Netfone.exe component of NetTelephone version 3.5.6, representing a significant security flaw that compromises user account integrity through weak cryptographic practices and improper data storage mechanisms. This issue affects the Windows registry configuration where sensitive user information is stored in an unencrypted format, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to gain unauthorized access to telecommunications accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices that violate fundamental principles of secure software development and data protection.
The technical flaw manifests through two primary weaknesses that compound to create a dangerous security exposure. First, the application employs weak encryption algorithms for user PIN codes, which can be readily reverse-engineered or cracked through brute force methods, making the authentication mechanism fundamentally insecure. Second, the application stores user account numbers in plaintext format within the Windows registry at the specific location HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MediaRing.com\SDK\NetTelephone\settings, which eliminates any form of data protection and makes sensitive account information immediately accessible to any local user with registry access privileges. This registry key structure represents a classic example of insecure data storage practices that directly violates security best practices and industry standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to account information, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by various threat actors within the local system environment. Local users with minimal privileges can exploit this vulnerability to extract account numbers and potentially bypass authentication mechanisms, leading to unauthorized use of telecommunications services and potential financial losses. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only local system access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by malware, insider threats, or attackers who have already gained local execution privileges on the target system. This scenario aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework where local privilege escalation and credential theft are common initial compromise vectors.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics that map directly to CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) and CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials) categories, highlighting the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and secure credential handling. The weakness in encryption strength and plaintext storage represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege and data protection at rest, which are core requirements in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001. Organizations using affected versions of NetTelephone face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where multiple users share systems or where security controls are not properly enforced.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as well as implementing additional security controls to limit local system access. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all affected systems and ensure that the vulnerable NetTelephone versions are immediately updated to patched releases. Registry permissions should be reviewed and restricted to prevent unauthorized access to the vulnerable registry keys, while network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of local privilege escalation. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for suspicious registry access patterns and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of proper cryptographic implementation in all security-sensitive applications, particularly those handling user authentication and account information.