CVE-2010-3868 in Certificate System
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat Certificate System (RHCS) 7.3 and 8 and Dogtag Certificate System do not require authentication for requests to decrypt SCEP one-time PINs, which allows remote attackers to obtain PINs by sniffing the network for SCEP requests and then sending decryption requests to the Certificate Authority component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3868 represents a critical authentication flaw within Red Hat Certificate System versions 7.3 and 8, as well as the Dogtag Certificate System that affects the Secure Computerized Enrollment Protocol implementation. This weakness stems from the improper handling of SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol) requests where the system fails to validate the authenticity of entities attempting to decrypt one-time PINs used for certificate enrollment processes. The vulnerability specifically targets the cryptographic protection mechanisms designed to secure sensitive enrollment information, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to confidential data. The flaw exists at the protocol level where the Certificate Authority component accepts decryption requests without verifying the requesting entity's credentials, effectively bypassing the intended security controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to perform network sniffing operations to capture SCEP requests containing encrypted one-time PINs, which are typically transmitted over unencrypted channels or weakly secured connections. Once captured, the attacker can submit decryption requests directly to the Certificate Authority component without proper authentication, thereby obtaining the plaintext PIN values that would normally be protected. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and authentication requirements within the certificate management infrastructure. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and specifically relates to CWE-310, concerning cryptographic weaknesses, as it undermines the cryptographic protection of sensitive enrollment data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to potentially impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to certificate enrollment services. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can obtain valid one-time PINs used for certificate enrollment, potentially leading to certificate forgery, man-in-the-middle attacks, or unauthorized certificate issuance within the PKI infrastructure. The consequences can be severe for organizations relying on these systems for secure communications, as compromised enrollment PINs can undermine the entire certificate trust model. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers "Unsecured Credentials," and T1552.006, addressing "Credentials in Files," as it allows attackers to extract sensitive authentication data from the certificate system without proper authorization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper authentication mechanisms for all SCEP operations, particularly those involving decryption of sensitive data. Organizations should ensure that all Certificate Authority components require valid authentication before processing decryption requests, implementing strong credential validation procedures. Network segmentation and encryption of SCEP communications should be enforced to prevent passive network sniffing attacks, while also ensuring that all communication channels use secure protocols such as TLS. Additionally, system administrators should implement proper access controls and monitoring for certificate system components, regularly auditing authentication attempts and decryption requests to detect unauthorized access patterns. The remediation process involves upgrading to patched versions of the Red Hat Certificate System or Dogtag Certificate System where proper authentication controls have been implemented, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of the PKI infrastructure to identify similar authentication weaknesses that may exist in other components.