CVE-2011-2736 in enVision
Summary
by MITRE
RSA enVision 4.x before 4 SP4 P3 places cleartext administrative credentials in Task Escalation e-mail messages, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network or leveraging access to a recipient mailbox.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2736 affects RSA enVision 4.x versions prior to 4 SP4 P3, presenting a critical security flaw in how administrative credentials are handled within the system's Task Escalation functionality. This issue stems from the improper handling of sensitive information during automated email communications, creating a significant exposure point for unauthorized parties who may gain access to administrative privileges through network sniffing or mailbox compromise techniques.
The technical flaw manifests when the RSA enVision system generates Task Escalation e-mail messages containing cleartext administrative credentials. These credentials are transmitted in an unencrypted format directly within the email body, making them immediately accessible to any attacker who can intercept network traffic or gain access to recipient mailboxes. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient information protection during transmission, where sensitive authentication data is not properly secured or obfuscated before being sent through potentially insecure channels. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles regarding credential handling and secure communication protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the RSA enVision environment. Once compromised, administrative credentials can be used to manipulate system configurations, access restricted data, modify security policies, and potentially escalate privileges to gain broader system access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates silently in the background, with no indication to administrators that credentials have been exposed through email communications. Network sniffing attacks can easily capture these cleartext credentials, while mailbox access through phishing or compromised user accounts provides another attack vector for credential harvesting.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-313 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in a File or Database) categories, as the administrative credentials are stored and transmitted in cleartext format. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage compromised credentials to establish persistent access. The vulnerability also relates to T1528 (Steal Application Access Token) when considering the broader implications of credential exposure in enterprise environments. Organizations using RSA enVision 4.x systems are particularly vulnerable to attacks that exploit this weakness, as the flaw affects the core administrative functionality of the platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2736 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patch to update to RSA enVision 4 SP4 P3 or later versions. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential credential interception attempts and establish secure email protocols that encrypt sensitive information. Additional protective measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, restricting email access to administrative users, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper credential management practices and secure communication protocols in enterprise security architectures, particularly when dealing with administrative functions that require elevated privileges.