CVE-2012-0400 in enVision
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA enVision 4.x before 4.1 Patch 4 does not properly restrict the number of failed authentication attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0400 affects EMC RSA enVision 4.x versions prior to 4.1 Patch 4, representing a critical weakness in the authentication mechanism that undermines the system's security posture. This flaw resides in the authentication subsystem where the application fails to implement proper account lockout or rate-limiting mechanisms to prevent repeated failed login attempts. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to conduct brute-force attacks against user accounts without effective resistance from the system, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential for unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper authentication attempt monitoring and restriction controls within the RSA enVision platform. When users attempt to authenticate with incorrect credentials, the system does not track these failed attempts or implement protective measures such as temporary account lockouts, increased delay between attempts, or IP address blocking. This design flaw creates an environment where attackers can systematically test numerous credential combinations without encountering effective barriers, making automated attack tools highly effective against the system. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-307 - "Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts" which specifically addresses the lack of controls to prevent brute-force and dictionary attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on EMC RSA enVision for security monitoring and management. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources, potentially compromising the entire security infrastructure. The ease of exploitation means that even relatively simple brute-force tools can succeed in penetrating the system within reasonable timeframes, especially when combined with credential reuse patterns or default passwords. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where the enVision platform serves as a central security management point, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to critical security logs, configuration data, and monitoring capabilities that would otherwise be protected.
The threat landscape surrounding this vulnerability is further exacerbated by the fact that it affects a widely deployed security management platform, making it an attractive target for both automated scanning tools and targeted attacks. Attackers can leverage publicly available brute-force frameworks to systematically test common credential combinations against the vulnerable system, with minimal risk of detection or blocking. Organizations using affected versions may experience unauthorized access to their security monitoring infrastructure, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system compromise, or disruption of security operations. The vulnerability also increases the risk of lateral movement within networks where the enVision platform is integrated with other security systems, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to broader network security controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the available 4.1 Patch 4 update from EMC to address the vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing supplementary controls such as network-level access restrictions, intrusion detection system monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns, and enhanced logging of authentication attempts. The implementation of proper account lockout policies, increased authentication delays, and IP address monitoring should be considered as temporary measures while the official patch is deployed. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive assessments of their RSA enVision implementations to identify any other systems that may be vulnerable to similar authentication flaws, ensuring that the broader security infrastructure maintains adequate protection against credential-based attacks.