CVE-2005-4730 in Text Password
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in PEAR Text_Password 1.0 has unknown impact and attack vectors, related to "problematic seeding" of the random number generator, possibly predictable seeds.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4730 affects PEAR Text_Password 1.0, a PHP library designed to generate random passwords for various applications. This unspecified vulnerability stems from problematic seeding of the random number generator within the library, creating potential security risks for systems relying on generated passwords for authentication and access control. The issue represents a fundamental flaw in how cryptographic randomness is implemented, which directly impacts the strength and unpredictability of password generation mechanisms.
The technical flaw lies in the improper initialization of random number generators used by the Text_Password library. When random number generators are seeded with predictable or insufficiently random values, the output becomes vulnerable to prediction attacks. This weakness allows potential attackers to reverse-engineer the password generation process and potentially reproduce the same sequences of random numbers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values, and specifically relates to improper random number generation practices that compromise cryptographic security. The problematic seeding mechanism likely utilizes time-based or other predictable factors as seeds, making the entire password generation process susceptible to attack.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple password generation failures, as it fundamentally undermines the security of systems relying on these generated passwords for authentication. Attackers who can predict or reproduce the random seeds used by the library can potentially generate the same passwords that legitimate users would receive, enabling unauthorized access to systems, accounts, and resources. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications and services that depend on automatically generated passwords for user accounts, session management, or temporary access credentials. The attack vectors remain unspecified but would likely involve either brute force prediction of the random number generator state or exploitation of predictable seeding mechanisms, potentially leading to account takeovers, privilege escalation, or unauthorized system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4730 should focus on immediate library updates and implementation of more robust random number generation practices. Organizations should upgrade to newer versions of the PEAR Text_Password library that address the random seeding issues or replace the library entirely with more secure alternatives. The solution involves ensuring that random number generators are properly seeded with high-quality entropy sources, such as /dev/urandom on Unix-like systems or Windows CryptoAPI on Windows platforms. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual patterns in password generation and establish procedures for regularly rotating affected credentials. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper entropy management in cryptographic implementations and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through various means including predictable password generation mechanisms. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated libraries and validation of password generation outputs to ensure that the randomization has been properly addressed.