CVE-2011-1327 in Internet Security
Summary
by MITRE
The Keystroke Encryption feature in Trend Micro Internet Security 2009 (aka Virus Buster 2009 and PC-cillin 2009) does not completely encrypt passwords, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging a keylogger.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1327 resides within the keystroke encryption implementation of Trend Micro Internet Security 2009, which was also known as Virus Buster 2009 and PC-cillin 2009. This security flaw specifically targets the encryption mechanisms designed to protect sensitive user input, particularly passwords, during system operation. The issue represents a critical failure in the application's security architecture where the encryption process is fundamentally incomplete or improperly implemented, creating a significant exposure for system users.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of keystroke data within the Trend Micro security suite. When users enter passwords or other sensitive information, the system is supposed to encrypt this data to prevent unauthorized access. However, the implementation fails to provide complete encryption coverage, leaving portions of the keystroke data in an unencrypted state. This incomplete encryption creates a vulnerability that can be exploited by local attackers who deploy keylogger malware. The keylogger captures the unencrypted keystroke data, effectively bypassing the intended security protections and allowing attackers to obtain sensitive information directly from the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations and individual users running affected versions of Trend Micro Internet Security 2009. Local attackers with access to the system can leverage this weakness to capture passwords and other sensitive information without requiring sophisticated attack vectors or network access. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability where a local user can obtain information that should be protected by the system's security mechanisms. The vulnerability essentially undermines the trust model of the security software itself, as it fails to protect the very data it was designed to secure, creating a false sense of security for users.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which describes the weakness of "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information," and represents a failure in proper data encryption implementation. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1056.001, which covers "Input Capture: Keylogging," as it provides a direct pathway for keylogger malware to obtain unencrypted sensitive data. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-310, "Cryptographic Issues," as it demonstrates improper implementation of encryption mechanisms that should protect user credentials. Organizations should immediately update to patched versions of the software, implement additional monitoring for keylogger activity, and consider alternative password protection mechanisms while the vulnerability exists in their environment.
The root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate cryptographic implementation within the Trend Micro security suite, where the developers failed to properly encrypt all keystroke data or implemented encryption in a manner that could be bypassed by local keylogger malware. This represents a fundamental flaw in the security design where the system's self-protection mechanisms are insufficient against local threats, creating a dangerous situation where the security software becomes a vector for information leakage rather than a protective barrier. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper encryption implementation and the need for comprehensive security testing of all components within security software suites to prevent such fundamental design flaws from reaching production environments.