CVE-2011-3685 in Server Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
Tembria Server Monitor before 6.0.5 Build 2252 uses a substitution cipher to encrypt application credentials, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by leveraging read access to (1) authentication.dat or (2) XML files in the Exports directory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3685 affects Tembria Server Monitor versions prior to 6.0.5 Build 2252, presenting a critical security weakness in credential storage and encryption mechanisms. This issue stems from the application's use of a substitution cipher for encrypting sensitive authentication data, a cryptographic approach that fundamentally lacks the security properties required for protecting sensitive information. The vulnerability resides in the application's credential management system where user authentication details are stored in plaintext or weakly encrypted formats, creating a significant attack surface for local adversaries.
The technical flaw manifests through the application's handling of authentication.dat files and XML exports within the Exports directory, both of which contain credential information protected by a substitution cipher rather than robust encryption algorithms. Substitution ciphers, classified under CWE-327 in the Common Weakness Enumeration, represent a fundamental cryptographic weakness that can be easily broken through frequency analysis or pattern recognition techniques. Attackers with local read access to these specific files can directly extract and decode the stored credentials without requiring advanced cryptographic attacks or significant computational resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables unauthorized local users to gain persistent access to systems protected by the affected monitoring application. This weakness creates a persistent backdoor for attackers who can leverage the stolen credentials to escalate privileges, move laterally within networks, or establish unauthorized access to other systems that may rely on the same authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers "Unsecured Credentials," and represents a clear violation of security best practices for credential storage and encryption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper encryption mechanisms replacing the substitution cipher with industry-standard cryptographic algorithms such as AES-256 for credential storage. Organizations should also implement mandatory access controls and file permissions to restrict read access to authentication files, while conducting comprehensive audits of credential storage practices across all system components. The remediation process must include updating to Tembria Server Monitor version 6.0.5 Build 2252 or later, which addresses this specific cryptographic weakness, and implementing additional security measures such as regular credential rotation, monitoring for unauthorized file access attempts, and comprehensive security training for system administrators to prevent similar cryptographic weaknesses in other applications.