CVE-2008-0724 in The Everything Development Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The Everything Development Engine in The Everything Development System Pre-1.0 and earlier stores passwords in cleartext in a database, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to obtain access to user accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0724 represents a critical security flaw within the Everything Development Engine component of The Everything Development System version 1.0 and earlier. This weakness stems from the system's improper handling of user authentication credentials, specifically storing passwords in plain text format within its database infrastructure. The vulnerability exposes sensitive authentication data to unauthorized access, creating a significant risk for systems that rely on this development framework for application creation and deployment.
This security flaw constitutes a direct violation of fundamental security principles and aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage of credentials. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the development system, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and their associated privileges. The cleartext storage approach eliminates any form of cryptographic protection that would normally safeguard password information during storage, making the entire authentication process vulnerable to exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by context-dependent attackers who may have access to the database environment. Attackers with database access can directly extract user credentials without requiring additional cracking or reverse-engineering processes, significantly reducing the attack surface and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. This vulnerability particularly affects development environments where multiple users may have varying levels of access to the database, creating potential escalation paths for malicious actors who can leverage stolen credentials to access additional system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate implementation of proper password hashing mechanisms, specifically utilizing industry-standard cryptographic algorithms such as bcrypt, scrypt, or PBKDF2 for password storage. Organizations should implement comprehensive database access controls and monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to credential storage areas. The remediation process must include immediate password reset procedures for all affected user accounts, followed by the implementation of proper authentication protocols that align with NIST Special Publication 800-63B guidelines for digital identity management. Additionally, system administrators should conduct thorough security audits to identify any other instances of cleartext credential storage within the development environment and ensure compliance with established security frameworks such as those outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for credential access techniques.