CVE-2008-2299 in Presentation Server
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in SecureICA and ICA Basic encryption of Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 and earlier, Access Essentials 2.0 and earlier, and Desktop Server 1.0 can cause clients to use weaker encryption settings than configured by the administrator, which might allow attackers to bypass intended restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2299 represents a critical weakness in the encryption implementation of Citrix Presentation Server and related products, specifically affecting versions 4.5 and earlier of Presentation Server, Access Essentials 2.0 and earlier, and Desktop Server 1.0. This issue falls under the category of cryptographic weakness as defined by CWE-327, where the system fails to properly enforce configured security parameters, creating a scenario where administrative security policies are effectively bypassed. The vulnerability manifests in the SecureICA and ICA Basic encryption mechanisms that are fundamental to Citrix's remote desktop protocol implementation, which is widely deployed across enterprise environments for remote access and application delivery.
The technical flaw lies in the encryption negotiation process where client-side components can override or downgrade the encryption settings that administrators have explicitly configured on the server side. This behavior creates a mismatch between the intended security posture and the actual security implementation, allowing unauthorized parties to potentially establish connections using weaker encryption protocols than what was specified in the security policy. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper cryptographic implementation and enforcement, specifically related to the ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) protocol's encryption handling mechanisms that are designed to secure remote desktop sessions between clients and servers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on Citrix solutions for remote access and desktop virtualization. Attackers who can exploit this weakness may be able to establish sessions using reduced encryption strength, potentially enabling man-in-the-middle attacks, session hijacking, or data interception. The vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad, particularly confidentiality, as sensitive data transmitted through Citrix sessions could be exposed to unauthorized parties. This weakness is particularly concerning in environments where strict encryption policies are enforced and where the integrity of remote desktop sessions is paramount for maintaining secure access to corporate resources.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1071.004 tactic for application layer protocol usage and potentially T1566 for credential access through network infrastructure. Organizations using affected Citrix products should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to supported versions where this vulnerability has been addressed, enforcing strict encryption policies at the network level, and implementing additional monitoring to detect unusual encryption negotiation patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the need for thorough security testing of encryption mechanisms within enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive data and providing remote access capabilities.