CVE-2012-0402 in enVision
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA enVision 4.x before 4.1 Patch 4 uses unspecified hardcoded credentials, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0402 affects EMC RSA enVision 4.x versions prior to 4.1 Patch 4, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's authentication mechanisms. This issue stems from the use of unspecified hardcoded credentials within the software implementation, creating a persistent backdoor that significantly weakens the overall security posture of the platform. The presence of hardcoded credentials in enterprise security software represents a fundamental design flaw that directly violates security best practices and industry standards.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of static authentication credentials within the application code or configuration files, which remain unchanged regardless of system updates or security policies. These hardcoded credentials provide unauthorized access to the system through unspecified attack vectors that could include network-based exploitation, physical access scenarios, or even social engineering approaches that leverage the predictable nature of such credentials. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways exist for exploitation, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as defenders cannot easily predict or prepare for all potential attack surfaces.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk landscape for organizations utilizing EMC RSA enVision 4.x systems, as it allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access without requiring sophisticated exploitation techniques or advanced knowledge of the system's internal workings. The attack surface expands significantly since attackers can leverage these hardcoded credentials to establish persistent access, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or use as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-798, which addresses the use of hardcoded credentials, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as the hardcoded credentials essentially create legitimate access points that attackers can exploit.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including immediate patch deployment to version 4.1 Patch 4 or later, which addresses the hardcoded credential issue through proper credential management and authentication mechanisms. Additional defensive measures should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts, implementation of network segmentation to limit lateral movement capabilities, and thorough credential rotation across all system components. Security teams must also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other instances of hardcoded credentials within their infrastructure, as this represents a systemic security weakness that requires broader architectural review and remediation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and proper credential management as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, which specifically address the need for dynamic credential management and the elimination of hardcoded authentication elements in security-critical applications.