CVE-2011-5117 in SafeGuard Enterprise Device Encryption
Summary
by MITRE
Sophos SafeGuard Enterprise Device Encryption 5.x through 5.50.8.13, Sophos SafeGuard Easy Device Encryption Client 5.50.x, and Sophos Disk Encryption 5.50.x have a delay before removal of (1) out-of-date credentials and (2) invalid credentials, which allows physically proximate attackers to defeat the full-disk encryption feature by leveraging knowledge of these credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5117 affects Sophos SafeGuard Enterprise Device Encryption and related disk encryption products across multiple versions, creating a significant security weakness in credential management that directly impacts the integrity of full-disk encryption systems. This flaw represents a critical design oversight in the credential validation and removal mechanisms, where the system fails to immediately invalidate outdated or compromised authentication credentials. The delay in credential removal creates a temporal window during which unauthorized individuals can exploit knowledge of previously valid credentials to bypass encryption protections, fundamentally undermining the security model that these products are designed to enforce.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper credential lifecycle management within the encryption client software, where the system maintains access to expired or invalid authentication tokens for an extended period beyond their legitimate usage timeframe. This behavior creates a persistent attack surface that attackers can leverage through physical proximity to the target device, exploiting the temporal gap between credential expiration and actual system removal of those credentials. The vulnerability specifically impacts both enterprise and easy device encryption clients, indicating a systemic flaw in the underlying credential handling architecture rather than an isolated component issue.
Operationally, this vulnerability enables attackers with physical access to devices to bypass full-disk encryption protections by utilizing knowledge of out-of-date or invalid credentials that should have already been invalidated. The attack vector requires only physical proximity to the target device, making it particularly dangerous in environments where devices may be left unattended or where unauthorized physical access cannot be effectively controlled. This weakness essentially renders the encryption feature ineffective against determined attackers who can exploit the credential delay window, potentially allowing access to sensitive data stored on encrypted volumes. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and unauthorized access to corporate or personal information that should remain protected by encryption.
Organizations utilizing these Sophos encryption products face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where physical security controls are inadequate or where devices may be accessed by unauthorized personnel. The vulnerability directly contradicts fundamental security principles outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically relating to improper credential handling and insufficient access control mechanisms. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, where attackers can leverage stolen or knowledge-based credentials to bypass encryption protections. The recommended mitigations include immediate software updates to patched versions, implementation of additional physical security controls, and enhanced monitoring of credential usage patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation policies to reduce the attack surface and minimize the impact of this vulnerability.