CVE-2005-0604 in languard
Summary
by MITRE
lnss.exe in gfi languard network security scanner 5.0 stores the username and password in memory in plaintext which could allow local administrators to obtain domain administrator credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0604 affects the gfi languard network security scanner version 5.0 where the lnss.exe component exhibits a critical security flaw in its credential handling mechanisms. This issue represents a classic example of insecure credential storage that directly violates fundamental security principles and creates significant attack surface for malicious actors within network environments. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the application manages authentication credentials during network scanning operations, where sensitive information is persisted in memory without adequate protection measures.
The technical implementation flaw involves the lnss.exe process storing user credentials in plaintext format within the application's memory space, making them accessible to any local administrator process that can access the memory of the running application. This design decision creates a dangerous exposure where the system's security relies on the assumption that local administrators are trusted entities, which is fundamentally flawed in modern security architectures. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security engineering practices and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, as it unnecessarily exposes administrative credentials to processes that may not require such elevated access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to network security posture, particularly in environments where domain administrator credentials are used for scanning operations. Local administrators with access to the system running gfi languard could potentially extract these plaintext credentials from memory using various memory inspection techniques or through process analysis tools. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as it provides attackers with elevated privileges that could enable lateral movement, privilege escalation, and potentially complete domain compromise. This vulnerability directly aligns with attack patterns described in the attack tree methodology where credential access represents a critical entry point for further exploitation.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly concerning given that it operates at the system level where local administrators typically possess extensive access rights. Attackers could leverage this weakness to escalate privileges beyond their initial access level, potentially gaining control over entire network domains. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-522 as "Insufficiently Protected Credentials" and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in various industry standards including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 security controls. The flaw creates an attack surface that can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors who gain access to local administrator accounts on systems running the vulnerable software.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the gfi languard software to version 5.1 or later where the credential storage mechanism has been properly implemented. Organizations should implement additional controls such as restricting local administrator access to systems running vulnerable software, implementing memory protection mechanisms, and utilizing credential managers that do not store credentials in plaintext format. The implementation of principle of least privilege should be enforced to ensure that scanning operations do not require domain administrator credentials, and instead use least-privilege accounts with appropriate access controls. Network segmentation and monitoring should also be enhanced to detect suspicious memory access patterns or credential extraction attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.