CVE-2011-4432 in Centreon
Summary
by MITRE
www/include/configuration/nconfigObject/contact/DB-Func.php in Merethis Centreon before 2.3.2 does not use a salt during calculation of a password hash, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to determine cleartext passwords via a rainbow-table approach.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4432 affects Merethis Centreon versions prior to 2.3.2, specifically within the database function file located at www/include/configuration/nconfigObject/contact/DB-Func.php. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the password hashing implementation that significantly undermines the security posture of the affected system. The vulnerability resides in how the application handles password encryption during user account creation and authentication processes, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to recover cleartext passwords through well-established cryptographic attacks.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of cryptographic salt in the password hashing mechanism implemented within the Centreon application. When passwords are hashed without incorporating a unique salt value, the resulting hash becomes deterministic and predictable, making it susceptible to rainbow table attacks and other precomputed hash lookup methods. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-759, which describes the use of a one-way hash without a salt, and CWE-760, which addresses the use of a hash function with a weak hash. The lack of salt means that identical passwords will produce identical hash values, eliminating the fundamental security principle that should make each password hash unique regardless of the input password.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it provides attackers with an efficient method to compromise user accounts within the Centreon monitoring system. Context-dependent attackers who can access the database or hash values can leverage precomputed rainbow tables to reverse engineer password hashes and obtain cleartext passwords. This compromise extends beyond individual user accounts to potentially affect the entire monitoring infrastructure, as Centreon administrators often possess elevated privileges and access to critical system information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the application, potentially enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access to system configuration, monitoring data, and operational controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4432 involve immediate upgrading of the Centreon application to version 2.3.2 or later, where the cryptographic salt implementation has been properly addressed. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive password audits to identify and reset any compromised accounts, particularly those with administrative privileges. The implementation of proper password hashing mechanisms that incorporate unique salts for each password is essential, following industry standards such as those recommended in the NIST Special Publication 800-112 for cryptographic key management. Additionally, organizations should implement multi-factor authentication as an additional layer of security and ensure that all password hashing operations comply with established security frameworks like the OWASP Password Storage Cheat Sheet, which emphasizes the importance of using salted hashes with sufficient entropy. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which covers the use of password hashes for credential access, highlighting the need for proper cryptographic implementation to prevent such attacks.