CVE-2007-1505 in Systemwalker Desktop Encryption
Summary
by MITRE
Fujistu FENCE-Pro before V5L01, and Systemwalker Desktop Encryption V12.0L10, V12.0L10A, V12.0L10B, V12.0L20 and V13.0.0 allows local users to obtain sensitive information by extracting the decoding password from certain "self-decoding" file types.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1505 affects specific versions of Fujistu FENCE-Pro and Systemwalker Desktop Encryption software, representing a significant security flaw in data protection mechanisms. This issue manifests through the improper handling of self-decoding file formats, where sensitive cryptographic information becomes accessible to local attackers who can extract decoding passwords directly from these file types. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the encryption software's implementation, particularly in how it manages the storage and retrieval of cryptographic keys during the decryption process.
The technical flaw in these encryption products lies in their insufficient protection of cryptographic parameters within self-decoding files. When these files are created, the encryption software stores decoding information in a manner that can be directly extracted by local users without proper authentication or authorization. This weakness specifically impacts the confidentiality aspect of the encryption system, as defined by the CIA triad, where the sensitive password information becomes exposed through direct file analysis. The vulnerability represents a classic example of poor key management and information exposure, falling under CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and potentially CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) depending on the specific implementation details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems relying on these encryption tools. Local attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to encrypted data by simply extracting the passwords from the self-decoding files, effectively bypassing the intended encryption protection. This creates a scenario where the encryption software becomes counterproductive, as it provides no meaningful security boundary for local users who can directly access the cryptographic keys. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Unsecured Credentials) and could potentially map to T1003.002 (OS Credential Dumping) depending on how the extracted information is subsequently used within the compromised system environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to patched versions of the affected software products, as vendors would have addressed the improper handling of cryptographic parameters in their updates. Organizations should also implement additional access controls to limit local user privileges and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts to encrypted files. Security configurations should include regular audits of encryption software implementations to identify similar vulnerabilities in other security tools. The remediation process should also involve re-encrypting any data that may have been exposed through this vulnerability, particularly in environments where local user access cannot be adequately restricted. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network-based encryption solutions that do not rely on local file storage for cryptographic keys, thereby reducing the attack surface for this specific class of vulnerability.