CVE-2005-3112 in breeze
Summary
by MITRE
the "reset password" feature in macromedia breeze 5.0 stores passwords in plaintext in the database instead of the hash which allows attackers with access to the database to obtain the passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3112 represents a critical security flaw in Macromedia Breeze 5.0's authentication system that directly violates fundamental security principles. This weakness specifically affects the password reset functionality where user credentials are stored in an unencrypted format within the database infrastructure. The flaw constitutes a significant failure in proper credential handling practices and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of secure password storage mechanisms. The vulnerability arises from the application's failure to implement industry-standard cryptographic hashing algorithms for password retention, instead opting for plaintext storage that exposes user credentials to immediate compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's design decision to store password reset tokens or actual user passwords without any form of cryptographic protection. When users initiate password reset requests, the system should employ secure hashing functions such as bcrypt, scrypt, or PBKDF2 to transform plaintext passwords into irreversible cryptographic hashes. However, Macromedia Breeze 5.0 fails to implement this essential security measure, leaving passwords vulnerable to direct extraction when database access is obtained by unauthorized parties. This design flaw directly maps to CWE-256, which addresses the storage of passwords without cryptographic hashing, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and defense in depth.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate exposure of user credentials, creating cascading security risks within affected systems. Attackers who gain database access can immediately enumerate all user accounts and their corresponding passwords, enabling them to conduct unauthorized access attempts against other systems where users may have reused credentials. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where users employ single sign-on mechanisms or maintain consistent password policies across multiple applications, amplifying the potential damage. The risk assessment for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage, as compromised passwords can be leveraged for persistent access to systems and networks. Organizations utilizing this vulnerable software face heightened risk of credential stuffing attacks, insider threats, and lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3112 require immediate implementation of database-level security measures alongside application-level remediation. Organizations should implement comprehensive database access controls, including role-based access control mechanisms and mandatory access controls to limit who can query password-related tables. The immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Macromedia Breeze or migrating to a more secure platform that implements proper password hashing. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough credential audits, reset all compromised user accounts, and implement multi-factor authentication as a compensating control. The remediation process should also include database encryption at rest, network segmentation, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the system infrastructure.