CVE-2010-0119 in Bournal
Summary
by MITRE
Bournal before 1.4.1 on FreeBSD 8.0, when the -K option is used, places a ccrypt key on the command line, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by listing the process and its arguments, related to "echoing."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-0119 affects Bournal versions prior to 1.4.1 running on FreeBSD 8.0 systems. This security flaw manifests when the application is invoked with the -K command line option, creating a dangerous exposure of cryptographic key material through process enumeration techniques. The issue stems from the application's improper handling of sensitive data during execution, specifically when utilizing the ccrypt encryption utility for file protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the direct inclusion of cryptographic key parameters within the command line arguments passed to the ccrypt utility. When Bournal executes with the -K option, it effectively embeds the key material as a command line argument, making it immediately accessible to any process that can enumerate running processes. This behavior violates fundamental security principles regarding the handling of sensitive information and creates an attack surface that adversaries can exploit through standard system introspection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with direct access to cryptographic keys used for file encryption. This exposure can lead to unauthorized decryption of protected files, complete compromise of the encryption system, and potential access to sensitive data that was intended to be protected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where multiple users share system resources, as process listing capabilities are often available through standard system monitoring tools and user interfaces.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-256, which addresses the issue of insecure key storage and exposure of cryptographic keys. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which involves the discovery of system credentials through process enumeration and command line argument inspection. The vulnerability represents a classic case of poor input handling and insecure data management practices that can be exploited by local users with minimal privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Bournal application to version 1.4.1 or later, which addresses the improper handling of cryptographic keys through command line arguments. System administrators should also implement process monitoring to detect and prevent the execution of applications that expose sensitive information through command line parameters. Additionally, the use of secure key management practices, such as environment variables or dedicated key storage mechanisms, should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive system auditing to identify any instances where cryptographic keys may have been exposed through similar mechanisms, and organizations should establish policies preventing the inclusion of sensitive data in command line arguments across all system components.