CVE-2012-2146 in Elixir
Summary
by MITRE
Elixir 0.8.0 uses Blowfish in CFB mode without constructing a unique initialization vector (IV), which makes it easier for context-dependent users to obtain sensitive information and decrypt the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2146 affects Elixir version 0.8.0 and represents a critical cryptographic weakness that undermines the security of encrypted data storage. This flaw resides in the implementation of the Blowfish encryption algorithm when operating in Cipher Feedback mode, where the system fails to generate unique initialization vectors for each encryption operation. The absence of unique IVs creates predictable cryptographic patterns that can be exploited by attackers with contextual knowledge of the encryption process.
The technical flaw stems from the improper implementation of cryptographic primitives where the same IV is reused across multiple encryption operations within the same session or database context. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-329, which addresses the lack of initialization vector uniqueness in cryptographic operations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.004 related to unsecured credentials storage. When the same IV is used repeatedly, it creates mathematical relationships that allow attackers to perform statistical analysis and potentially reconstruct plaintext data from encrypted database contents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential full database compromise when attackers can leverage the predictable IV patterns. Context-dependent attackers who can observe or manipulate encryption operations gain significant advantages in decrypting sensitive information without requiring brute force attacks or extensive computational resources. This weakness particularly affects database encryption scenarios where the same encryption keys are used repeatedly, making it easier for attackers to correlate encrypted data patterns and derive meaningful information from the database contents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2146 require immediate implementation of proper IV generation mechanisms that ensure uniqueness for each encryption operation. Organizations should upgrade to Elixir versions that properly implement cryptographic best practices, including the generation of cryptographically secure random IVs for each encryption context. The fix should enforce the use of unique IVs for every encryption operation while maintaining backward compatibility with existing encrypted data through proper key management and data migration procedures. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring for repeated IV usage patterns and establish regular security assessments to detect similar cryptographic implementation flaws that may exist in other components of the encryption infrastructure.