CVE-2007-2883 in Mobile Guardian Shield
Summary
by MITRE
Credant Mobile Guardian Shield for Windows 5.2.1.105 and earlier stores account names and passwords in plaintext in memory, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by (1) reading the paging file or (2) dumping and searching the memory image. NOTE: This issue crosses privilege boundaries because the product is intended to protect the data on a stolen computer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2883 represents a critical security flaw in Credant Mobile Guardian Shield for Windows version 5.2.1.105 and earlier implementations. This encryption product was specifically designed to protect data on stolen computers, making the presence of plaintext credentials in memory particularly concerning from a security perspective. The flaw exists in the product's memory management practices where account names and passwords are stored in an unencrypted format, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the very purpose of the security solution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the encryption software, where sensitive authentication credentials are not adequately protected during runtime operations. When the system processes encrypted data, it stores the plaintext credentials in memory locations that remain accessible to local users with sufficient privileges. This design flaw creates multiple attack vectors that adversaries can exploit to extract sensitive information without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques. The vulnerability specifically allows local users to access memory contents through two primary methods: reading the system paging file or performing memory dumps to search for credential information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly contradicts the fundamental security objectives of the product. Since Credant Mobile Guardian Shield is intended to protect data on stolen computers, the presence of plaintext credentials in memory creates a paradoxical security weakness. An attacker who gains local access to a system running this vulnerable software can easily extract authentication information, potentially compromising not only the local system but also any network resources that rely on the compromised credentials. This vulnerability essentially renders the encryption product ineffective against local attacks, as the very mechanism meant to protect data becomes a vector for credential theft. The issue crosses privilege boundaries because it allows users with standard local access to obtain information that should remain protected even when the system is compromised.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in Memory) and represents a classic example of insecure credential handling practices. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1003.001 (OS Credential Dumping: LSASS Memory) and T1003.002 (OS Credential Dumping: Security Account Manager) in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, as it provides a mechanism for extracting credentials from memory. Organizations using this vulnerable software face significant risk of credential compromise, particularly in environments where local access controls may be insufficient or where insider threats exist. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. Remediation requires either patching the software to implement proper memory encryption for sensitive data or implementing additional access controls to prevent unauthorized memory inspection. The security implications extend beyond immediate credential theft to potential lateral movement within networks and persistent access to systems that rely on compromised authentication information.