CVE-2012-2387 in devotee
Summary
by MITRE
devotee 0.1 patch 2 uses a 32-bit seed for generating 48-bit random numbers, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain the secret monikers via a brute force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2387 resides in the devotee 0.1 patch 2 software implementation where the random number generation mechanism employs a 32-bit seed to produce 48-bit random numbers. This design flaw fundamentally compromises the cryptographic security of the system by creating a limited entropy space that significantly reduces the complexity of potential attacks. The software's reliance on such a constrained seed size creates predictable patterns in the generated random values, making the system susceptible to various forms of cryptographic analysis and exploitation. This weakness directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of secret monikers that the system is designed to protect, as the predictable nature of the random generation process allows malicious actors to reverse-engineer or guess the values used to generate these sensitive identifiers.
The technical flaw manifests through the mathematical relationship between the seed size and the output space, where a 32-bit seed can only generate 2^32 possible starting points for a 48-bit output sequence. This creates an attack surface that is exponentially smaller than what would be expected from properly implemented cryptographic random number generation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-330 Use of Insufficiently Random Values, which specifically addresses the use of pseudo-random number generators with inadequate entropy sources. The limited seed space makes the system vulnerable to brute force attacks where an attacker can systematically test all possible 32-bit seed values to reproduce the random number sequences used in generating secret monikers, effectively compromising the security mechanisms that depend on these values for access control and authentication.
Operationally, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to obtain secret monikers through brute force methods, which represents a critical failure in the system's security architecture. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable unauthorized access to protected resources or services that rely on these monikers for authentication. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass access controls, impersonate legitimate users, or gain unauthorized privileges within the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access or complex attack vectors, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors. The computational feasibility of brute force attacks against the 32-bit seed space means that successful exploitation can occur relatively quickly, especially with modern computing resources and parallel processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2387 should focus on strengthening the random number generation mechanism by implementing proper cryptographic random number generators with sufficient entropy sources. The system should be updated to utilize a 64-bit or larger seed value to ensure adequate randomness for 48-bit output generation, thereby eliminating the predictable patterns that enable brute force attacks. Organizations should also implement proper entropy collection mechanisms and consider using established cryptographic libraries that provide cryptographically secure random number generation. The remediation process should include thorough testing to verify that the new random number generation implementation produces sufficiently unpredictable values and maintains the required security properties for protecting secret monikers. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any exploitation attempts and implement network-based detection measures to identify potential brute force attack patterns targeting the vulnerable system components. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper entropy management in cryptographic systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 for exploitation of weak randomness in cryptographic implementations.