CVE-2005-2444 in Trillian Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Trillian Pro 3.1 build 121, when checking Yahoo e-mail, stores the password in plaintext in a world readable file and does not delete the file after login, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2444 represents a critical security flaw in Trillian Pro 3.1 build 121 that exposes user credentials through improper handling of authentication data. This issue specifically manifests when the application processes Yahoo email accounts, creating a persistent security risk that directly violates fundamental security principles. The flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices and inadequate consideration of privilege separation, creating an environment where local attackers can easily exploit the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during the legitimate authentication process, making it difficult for users to detect the compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves Trillian Pro storing user passwords in plaintext format within files that have world-readable permissions. This approach directly contravenes established security guidelines for credential storage and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The application fails to properly secure sensitive data through encryption or access control mechanisms, instead leaving the password file accessible to any user account on the system. Additionally, the application does not implement proper cleanup procedures, meaning these plaintext credentials remain accessible long after the authentication process has completed. This persistent exposure significantly increases the attack surface and provides attackers with extended opportunities to exploit the vulnerability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for users who store their Yahoo email credentials within Trillian Pro. The local privilege escalation aspect means that any user with access to the system can potentially read the stored passwords, regardless of whether they have legitimate access to the Trillian application. This flaw effectively nullifies the security of the authentication process and creates a persistent backdoor for unauthorized access. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical expertise, as it requires no network access or complex exploitation techniques. The long-term persistence of the password file means that even if users change their passwords, the compromised credentials remain accessible in the plaintext file, continuing to provide unauthorized access to email accounts.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several established threat models and attack patterns. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique for Credential Access through the use of stored credentials, specifically falling under the category of "Credentials in Files" where attackers can access password files that have been improperly secured. This vulnerability also relates to CWE-312, which describes the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage of credentials. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and output handling practices, as the application fails to properly sanitize or secure authentication data before storage. Organizations using Trillian Pro 3.1 build 121 are at significant risk of credential compromise, potentially leading to unauthorized access to email accounts and subsequent exploitation of those accounts for phishing, spam, or other malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The most direct solution involves updating to a newer version of Trillian Pro that properly implements secure credential storage mechanisms, including encryption of stored passwords and appropriate file permission controls. System administrators should conduct immediate audits to identify and remove any existing plaintext credential files from affected systems. Additional protective measures include implementing file access controls to restrict read permissions on credential storage locations, deploying monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts, and establishing proper incident response procedures for credential compromise events. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for email accounts as a defense-in-depth strategy, since even if one credential is compromised, additional authentication factors can prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of thorough security testing during application development, particularly for applications handling sensitive user authentication data.