CVE-2011-4142 in SourceOne Email Management
Summary
by MITRE
The Web Search feature in EMC SourceOne Email Management 6.5 before 6.5.2.4033, 6.6 before 6.6.1.2194, and 6.7 before 6.7.2.2033 places cleartext credentials in log files, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading these files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4142 represents a critical security flaw in EMC SourceOne Email Management software across multiple versions, specifically affecting releases prior to 6.5.2.4033, 6.6.1.2194, and 6.7.2.2033. This issue stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the web search functionality of the email management platform. The flaw manifests when the system logs cleartext credentials in log files, creating an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure that directly violates fundamental security principles of credential protection and access control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web search feature's logging mechanism which inadvertently captures and stores user authentication credentials in plain text format within system log files. This design flaw creates a persistent exposure where local users with access to these log files can easily extract sensitive information including usernames and passwords without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage, and represents a classic example of insecure logging practices that undermine the confidentiality of authentication data. The issue demonstrates poor security engineering where authentication mechanisms fail to properly sanitize or encrypt sensitive data before storage, creating a direct attack surface for local privilege escalation and credential theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass significant risks for organizations relying on EMC SourceOne Email Management for email archiving and retrieval. Local users who can access system log files gain immediate access to valid authentication credentials, potentially enabling them to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted email content, and perform unauthorized operations within the email management system. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable software remains deployed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have local system access. The exposure of cleartext credentials in log files also violates industry standards such as those outlined in the NIST SP 800-53 security controls for authentication and access control, specifically addressing the requirement for protecting sensitive information through proper data handling practices.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions of EMC SourceOne Email Management software, reviewing and restricting access to system log files, and implementing proper log file access controls to prevent unauthorized local users from accessing sensitive information. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable software and ensure proper patch deployment across all affected systems. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files and establish proper log rotation and retention policies that prevent sensitive data from persisting in accessible locations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting thorough security reviews of logging mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other applications and systems.