CVE-2005-4412 in program neighborhood client
Summary
by MITRE
citrix program neighborhood client before 9.150 caches the user password in plaintext in the gui while asterisks are used to visually obfuscate the password which allows attackers with access to the session to obtain the password by using a tool to directly access the field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4412 affects the Citrix Program Neighborhood client version 9.150 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in how password credentials are handled within the graphical user interface. This issue stems from a fundamental design weakness where the client application stores user passwords in plain text format within memory while simultaneously displaying asterisks to mask the actual password input. The discrepancy between the visual representation and the actual storage mechanism creates a significant security gap that directly violates established principles of credential protection and secure data handling.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the application level where the Citrix Program Neighborhood client maintains a plaintext copy of the password in memory despite the visual obfuscation provided to users. This design choice creates a scenario where the password remains accessible in an unencrypted format within the application's memory space, making it susceptible to extraction by malicious actors who have access to the running process. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers can directly access memory fields through tools such as memory dump utilities or process inspection software, allowing them to retrieve the plaintext password without needing to bypass any encryption mechanisms or authentication protocols.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on Citrix virtualization solutions for remote access and application delivery. The attack vector requires only local access to the session where the client is running, making it particularly dangerous in shared or compromised environments. Attackers with access to a user's session can leverage this weakness to obtain valid credentials, potentially enabling them to escalate privileges, access additional systems, or conduct further reconnaissance within the network. The vulnerability essentially undermines the security model of the application by providing attackers with a direct path to obtain authentication credentials that should remain protected.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-522, which addresses insufficiently protected credentials, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, where adversaries leverage legitimate credentials to maintain access. Organizations using Citrix Program Neighborhood client versions prior to 9.150 face significant exposure risk, particularly in environments where physical or network access to user sessions may be compromised. The vulnerability also reflects poor security practices related to memory management and credential handling, as the application fails to implement proper secure storage mechanisms for sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through updating to Citrix Program Neighborhood client version 9.150 or later, which addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as session monitoring, memory protection mechanisms, and regular security assessments to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential damage if an attacker does gain access to a compromised session. Security awareness training for administrators and users can also help identify potential exploitation attempts and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper secure coding practices and the need for comprehensive security testing, particularly for applications handling sensitive authentication data.