CVE-2003-1417 in Support Software
Summary
by MITRE
nCipher Support Software 6.00, when using generatekey KeySafe to import keys, does not delete the temporary copies of the key, which may allow local users to gain access to the key by reading the (1) key.pem or (2) key.der files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1417 affects nCipher Support Software version 6.00, specifically within the KeySafe functionality used for key import operations. This represents a critical security flaw in cryptographic key management practices where sensitive cryptographic materials are not properly secured after use. The issue manifests when the software generates temporary key files during the import process, failing to adequately purge these temporary copies from the system storage. This weakness creates an exploitable condition that directly compromises the confidentiality of cryptographic keys stored within the system.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper memory and file management within the key import mechanism of the KeySafe component. When cryptographic keys are imported using the generatekey functionality, the system creates temporary files named key.pem and key.der to facilitate the import process. These temporary files contain the complete cryptographic key material in their respective formats, with pem files typically containing base64-encoded data and der files containing binary encoded data. The vulnerability occurs because the software does not perform proper cleanup operations to delete these temporary files after the import process completes, leaving them accessible on the filesystem for unauthorized users.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for local users who may have access to the system where the nCipher software is installed. The local privilege escalation aspect means that any user with access to the system can potentially discover and read these temporary key files, thereby gaining access to the cryptographic keys. This scenario violates fundamental security principles of key management and creates a direct path for unauthorized access to encrypted data, digital signatures, and other security services that depend on these keys. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it compromises the entire cryptographic infrastructure built around these keys.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and CWE-312, which covers "Sensitive Data Exposure," as the temporary key files contain complete cryptographic material that should never be stored in plaintext form. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact attack vector that can be executed through simple file system enumeration and read operations. The attack pattern follows the ATT&CK technique T1552.001, "Unsecured Credentials," as it involves the exposure of cryptographic keys through insecure temporary file handling. Organizations using nCipher Support Software 6.00 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including patching the software to properly delete temporary key files, implementing proper file system permissions, and conducting security audits to identify and remove any existing temporary key files. Additionally, system administrators should ensure that temporary file directories are properly secured and that file system monitoring is implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to these sensitive locations.