CVE-2007-1345 in access
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in cube.exe in the GINA component for CA (Computer Associates) eTrust Admin 8.1.0 through 8.1.2 allows attackers with physical interactive or Remote Desktop access to bypass authentication and gain privileges via the password reset interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1345 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the GINA (Graphical Identification and Authentication) component of CA eTrust Admin version 8.1.0 through 8.1.2. This issue specifically affects the cube.exe process which handles authentication operations, creating a significant security weakness that can be exploited by attackers who have gained physical or remote desktop access to the system. The vulnerability resides in the password reset interface functionality, which is designed to allow legitimate users to reset their passwords but has been implemented with insufficient security controls. The GINA component serves as a critical interface between the Windows operating system and authentication mechanisms, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it operates at a foundational level of system security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the password reset functionality of the eTrust Admin application. When users access the password reset interface through either physical interaction or Remote Desktop Protocol connections, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of the reset request or validate the user's authorization to perform such operations. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the authentication flow and escalate their privileges without proper credentials. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation through authentication bypass mechanisms. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to circumvent the normal authentication sequence and potentially gain administrative access to the system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to organizations relying on CA eTrust Admin for security management. Attackers who can establish physical access or gain Remote Desktop access to target systems can exploit this flaw to bypass authentication entirely and assume administrative privileges. This creates a pathway for lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, system compromise, and persistent access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal attack vectors to exploit - physical access or remote desktop connection is sufficient to attempt the authentication bypass. Organizations with poor physical security controls or those allowing unrestricted Remote Desktop access become especially vulnerable to this type of attack, as the attack surface expands significantly. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures where eTrust Admin is deployed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by CA, as well as implementing additional security controls to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should disable unnecessary Remote Desktop access where possible and enforce strict physical security measures to prevent unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of eTrust Admin. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious authentication attempts or privilege escalation activities. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and additional verification mechanisms can provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other systems running potentially vulnerable versions of the software and ensure that all systems are updated to the latest secure versions. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be performed to identify and remediate similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in the organization's infrastructure.