CVE-2005-0844 in Contivity
Summary
by MITRE
Nortel VPN client 5.01 stores the cleartext password in the memory of the Extranet.exe process, which could allow local users to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0844 affects the Nortel VPN client version 5.01, specifically within the Extranet.exe process where sensitive authentication credentials are stored in plaintext within system memory. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes the fundamental principle of credential protection by failing to implement proper memory sanitization and encryption mechanisms for authentication data. The vulnerability resides in the client-side application design where the password is not adequately protected during its operational lifecycle within the process memory space, creating an exploitable condition that directly violates security best practices for credential handling.
From a technical perspective, the flaw manifests as improper memory management within the Extranet.exe process where the cleartext password remains accessible in the process address space for the duration of the application's execution. This memory exposure creates a persistent attack surface that allows local users to potentially access the plaintext credentials through various memory inspection techniques. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of sensitive data in memory, and represents a classic example of insecure data storage within application processes. The flaw essentially transforms the authentication mechanism from a secure encrypted process into a plaintext exposure vulnerability that undermines the entire purpose of network authentication protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to create potential compromise pathways for unauthorized access to network resources. Local users who can execute processes with sufficient privileges to inspect the memory space of the Extranet.exe process can extract the cleartext password, potentially enabling them to authenticate to remote systems using the compromised credentials. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1003.001, which covers credential dumping, and represents a significant risk for privilege escalation and lateral movement within network environments where the VPN client is deployed. The exposure of authentication credentials through memory inspection techniques can lead to complete network compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Nortel, as well as implementing additional security controls to limit local user privileges and access to sensitive processes. Organizations should consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to reduce the effectiveness of memory inspection attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices for credential management, including the implementation of proper memory sanitization techniques and the use of secure libraries for handling authentication data. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of credential exposure, while regular security assessments should verify that authentication credentials are properly protected throughout their lifecycle within network applications.