CVE-2008-7278 in OTRS
Summary
by MITRE
The S/MIME feature in Open Ticket Request System (OTRS) before 2.2.5, and 2.3.x before 2.3.0-beta1, does not properly configure the RANDFILE environment variable for OpenSSL, which might make it easier for remote attackers to decrypt e-mail messages that had lower than intended entropy available for cryptographic operations, related to inability to write to the seeding file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7278 affects the Open Ticket Request System OTRS version 2.2.4 and earlier, as well as 2.3.x versions before 2.3.0-beta1, specifically within its S/MIME email encryption functionality. This issue stems from improper configuration of the RANDFILE environment variable when interfacing with the OpenSSL cryptographic library, creating a significant weakness in the system's ability to generate sufficient entropy for secure cryptographic operations.
The technical flaw manifests when the RANDFILE environment variable is not properly set during OpenSSL operations, preventing the library from maintaining an adequate seeding file for random number generation. This configuration oversight directly impacts the cryptographic strength of S/MIME encrypted communications by reducing the entropy available for generating cryptographic keys and initialization vectors. According to CWE-330, this represents a weakness in entropy sources, where insufficient randomness can lead to predictable cryptographic outputs that adversaries can exploit. The vulnerability specifically relates to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in random number generation, making it particularly dangerous for secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple encryption weakness to create potential decryption opportunities for remote attackers. When OpenSSL cannot properly seed its random number generator due to the missing RANDFILE configuration, the cryptographic operations become susceptible to attacks that exploit low entropy conditions. This weakness allows adversaries to potentially reconstruct cryptographic keys or predict random values used in encryption processes, thereby enabling unauthorized decryption of email messages that were intended to be protected. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to perform cryptanalysis on the encrypted communications, particularly targeting messages with insufficient entropy that would otherwise provide adequate security margins.
The security implications of CVE-2008-7278 align with ATT&CK technique T1583.001, which involves creating or modifying infrastructure for use in attacks, particularly in the context of cryptographic operations. This vulnerability represents a configuration weakness that could be exploited to undermine the confidentiality of communications within the OTRS system. Organizations using affected versions of OTRS face significant risk of data exposure through compromised email encryption, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information, including customer data, business communications, and other confidential materials processed through the ticketing system.
The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to OTRS versions 2.2.5 or 2.3.0-beta1 and later, which contain proper RANDFILE configuration for OpenSSL operations. System administrators should also verify that OpenSSL is properly configured with appropriate entropy sources, including ensuring that the system has adequate sources of randomness such as hardware random number generators or proper entropy collection mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unusual cryptographic operations and consider implementing additional entropy sources to strengthen the overall security posture of their cryptographic implementations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic configuration and the potential consequences of seemingly minor configuration oversights in security-critical systems.