CVE-2007-4549 in ALPass
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in ALPass 2.7 English and 3.02 Korean allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an ALPass DB (APW) file containing (1) a long file-key or (2) a "Site Information and Folder entry" with a ciphertext_length value much larger than the plaintext_length value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4549 represents a critical security flaw in ALPass password management software versions 2.7 English and 3.02 Korean. This issue manifests as multiple buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited by remote attackers with user assistance to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's handling of ALPass Database (APW) files, specifically targeting the file-key processing and site information folder entry parsing components. These buffer overflows occur when the software fails to properly validate the length parameters of cryptographic data structures, creating opportunities for malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors that leverage different aspects of the software's file parsing logic. The first vector targets the file-key processing functionality where an attacker can craft an APW file containing an excessively long file-key value that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This overflow condition occurs during the decryption or processing of the file-key, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory segments. The second vector focuses on the Site Information and Folder entry parsing where the ciphertext_length parameter contains a value significantly larger than the plaintext_length value, creating a scenario where the software allocates insufficient buffer space for the expected data processing. This discrepancy between expected and actual data sizes triggers the buffer overflow condition during cryptographic operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-4549 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity breaches. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise where attackers gain arbitrary code execution privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive password databases, system information disclosure, and persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on ALPass for password management, particularly those with legacy systems that may not receive updates or patches. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that victims must interact with malicious APW files, typically through email attachments or file sharing mechanisms, making social engineering components essential for successful exploitation. This characteristic reduces the attack surface compared to fully autonomous vulnerabilities but still poses significant risks in environments with less security awareness.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the processing of untrusted APW files, implementing strict file validation controls, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file transfer activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in cryptographic software implementations, emphasizing the need for defensive programming practices that prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other password management and encryption software components.