CVE-2011-2223 in Data Synchronizer
Summary
by MITRE
The Mobility Pack before 1.2 in Novell Data Synchronizer 1.x through 1.1.2 build 428 sends the Admin LDAP password in cleartext, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2223 represents a critical security flaw within Novell Data Synchronizer's Mobility Pack version 1.1.2 and earlier, where administrative LDAP credentials are transmitted in plaintext across network communications. This issue stems from inadequate cryptographic protection mechanisms during the authentication process, creating an exploitable vector for man-in-the-middle attacks and network packet sniffing operations. The flaw specifically affects the Mobility Pack component that facilitates mobile device synchronization with enterprise data systems, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on secure mobile data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the use of unencrypted communication protocols during the LDAP authentication phase of the Data Synchronizer process. When administrators configure or maintain mobile device synchronization settings, the Mobility Pack component establishes connections to LDAP servers using standard network protocols without implementing encryption or authentication mechanisms to protect credential transmission. This cleartext exposure means that any attacker with network access and the ability to capture packets can readily extract administrative passwords from network traffic, effectively compromising the entire synchronization infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which categorizes the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission, and represents a direct violation of secure communication principles outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for cryptographic protocol implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass complete administrative compromise of mobile device synchronization systems. Attackers who successfully intercept the cleartext LDAP passwords can assume full administrative control over the Data Synchronizer environment, potentially gaining access to all synchronized mobile devices, their associated user data, and underlying enterprise systems. This exposure creates cascading security risks as attackers could leverage these credentials to access additional network resources, escalate privileges within the enterprise environment, or conduct further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations with mobile-first strategies or those implementing enterprise mobility management solutions, where the synchronization of sensitive corporate data with mobile endpoints is critical to business operations. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1078, the exploitation of this vulnerability would enable adversaries to establish persistent access through legitimate administrative credentials, while T1566 addresses the initial compromise through network reconnaissance and packet interception activities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate Data Synchronizer components from general network traffic, deployment of network monitoring tools to detect and alert on cleartext credential transmission, and implementation of network encryption protocols such as TLS/SSL for all LDAP communications. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to Novell Data Synchronizer version 1.2 or later, which properly implements encrypted communication channels for administrative credentials. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network audits to identify any other instances of cleartext credential transmission within their infrastructure, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps in the organization's cryptographic practices. Additionally, implementing network access controls and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that all enterprise communication channels properly implement encryption standards to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other systems.