CVE-2005-3087 in SecureW2
Summary
by MITRE
The SecureW2 3.0 TLS implementation uses weak random number generators (rand and srand from system time) during generation of the pre-master secret (PMS), which makes it easier for attackers to guess the secret and decrypt sensitive data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3087 represents a critical weakness in the SecureW2 3.0 TLS implementation that fundamentally undermines the security of encrypted communications. This issue stems from the improper use of random number generation during the establishment of secure connections, specifically during the generation of the pre-master secret which serves as the foundation for all subsequent cryptographic operations in the TLS handshake process. The weakness manifests when the system employs basic rand and srand functions initialized with system time values, creating predictable sequences that significantly reduce the entropy of the cryptographic keys used in the encryption process.
The technical flaw in this implementation directly violates established cryptographic best practices and security standards such as those outlined in the National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines for cryptographic key generation. The use of system time as a seed for random number generation creates a predictable pattern that attackers can exploit through various techniques including brute force attacks and statistical analysis. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-330 category of "Use of Insufficiently Random Values" and specifically relates to the improper implementation of cryptographic primitives that should utilize cryptographically secure random number generators. The predictable nature of the pre-master secret generation means that an attacker who can observe multiple TLS handshakes may be able to reconstruct the secret and subsequently decrypt sensitive data transmitted over the secure connection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it can lead to complete compromise of secure communications channels that organizations rely upon for protecting sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, intercept and decrypt communications, and potentially gain unauthorized access to systems that depend on the integrity of TLS-protected connections. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the fundamental security mechanism of the protocol rather than just a specific application feature, making it difficult to patch or mitigate without addressing the underlying implementation issue. Organizations using SecureW2 3.0 may experience significant security incidents including data breaches, intellectual property theft, and compliance violations that could result in substantial financial and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3087 require immediate implementation of proper cryptographic random number generation mechanisms that utilize cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generators with sufficient entropy sources. Organizations should implement patches that replace the weak rand and srand functions with properly seeded cryptographic random number generators that incorporate multiple entropy sources including hardware random number generators, environmental noise, and other unpredictable system events. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security audits to identify all instances of the vulnerable implementation and ensure that all TLS connections utilize properly secure random number generation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and defense evasion, as attackers can use the predictable random number generation to bypass security controls and maintain persistent access to compromised systems. The implementation of proper random number generation practices should follow industry standards such as FIPS 140-2 and NIST SP 800-90A to ensure that cryptographic implementations meet the necessary security requirements for protecting sensitive data.