CVE-2006-7142 in Safeguard
Summary
by MITRE
The centralized management feature for Utimaco Safeguard stores hard-coded cryptographic keys in executable programs for encrypted configuration files, which allows attackers to recover the keys from the configuration files and decrypt the disk drive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-7142 resides within the Utimaco Safeguard centralized management system, where the implementation of cryptographic security measures contains a fundamental design flaw that undermines the entire encryption framework. This weakness manifests through the inclusion of hard-coded cryptographic keys directly within executable programs that manage encrypted configuration files, creating a critical security gap that directly contradicts established cryptographic best practices and industry standards.
The technical flaw represents a severe deviation from proper key management principles, as the system embeds cryptographic keys within the executable code itself rather than implementing secure key derivation or storage mechanisms. This hard-coding approach places the cryptographic keys in the same location as the encrypted configuration data, effectively eliminating any meaningful cryptographic protection since the keys required to decrypt the data are readily accessible within the same program files. The vulnerability operates at the application level and directly impacts the confidentiality controls that should protect sensitive data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates an immediate and severe risk for organizations utilizing Utimaco Safeguard systems, as attackers who gain access to the configuration files can readily extract the hard-coded keys and subsequently decrypt the entire disk drive encryption. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as successful exploitation allows attackers to bypass the entire encryption infrastructure and potentially gain unrestricted access to sensitive information stored on the encrypted drives. This vulnerability essentially renders the encryption mechanism ineffective and creates a backdoor that can be exploited by any attacker with access to the system's configuration files.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-321 (Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key), both of which specifically address the dangers of storing sensitive cryptographic information in accessible locations. The attack surface for this vulnerability is significantly expanded due to the nature of the hard-coded keys, as it does not require complex exploitation techniques or advanced cryptographic attacks. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Unsecured Credentials) and T1021.002 (Remote Services) since it enables unauthorized access to encrypted systems through credential compromise and remote exploitation opportunities.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Utimaco Safeguard software, reviewing and removing any hard-coded keys from configuration files, and implementing proper key management protocols. The recommended approach involves transitioning to secure key storage mechanisms such as hardware security modules, secure key derivation functions, or external key management systems that properly isolate cryptographic keys from executable code. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any other instances of hard-coded keys within their systems and establish proper key lifecycle management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.