CVE-2012-2742 in Revelation
Summary
by MITRE
Revelation 0.4.13-2 and earlier uses only the first 32 characters of a password followed by a sequence of zeros, which reduces the entropy and makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to crack passwords and obtain access to keys via a brute-force attack.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2742 affects Revelation version 0.4.13-2 and earlier, representing a critical weakness in password handling mechanisms that directly impacts cryptographic security. This flaw resides in the password processing algorithm where the system truncates user-supplied passwords to exactly 32 characters, subsequently padding the remainder with zeros. The implementation fails to properly handle password entropy, creating a significant security weakness that undermines the intended cryptographic protection. This behavior creates a predictable pattern that adversaries can exploit to reduce the computational complexity required for password cracking attempts.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate password processing that violates fundamental cryptographic principles for secure authentication. When users enter passwords longer than 32 characters, the system effectively ignores the additional characters and treats them as null padding, resulting in a substantial reduction of password entropy. This vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-259, which addresses weak password storage and handling, and CWE-326, which covers inadequate encryption strength. The reduced entropy means that attackers only need to brute-force the first 32 characters of the password, significantly decreasing the time and computational resources required to compromise user accounts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for users of Revelation software, particularly in environments where sensitive data is protected by password-based encryption. The impact extends beyond simple password cracking to encompass potential unauthorized access to encrypted key material and sensitive information. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform targeted brute-force attacks against password hashes, taking advantage of the predictable truncation pattern to reduce their attack surface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where multiple users rely on similar password patterns or where password reuse occurs across different systems, as it creates a cascading risk that can compromise entire user domains.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK techniques including T1110.003 for password cracking and T1552.004 for unsecured credentials. Organizations using affected versions of Revelation face increased risk of credential compromise through automated brute-force attacks that can systematically test password combinations against the truncated 32-character space. The vulnerability also exposes systems to credential stuffing attacks where attackers can leverage previously cracked passwords from other sources to gain unauthorized access. Mitigation strategies should include immediate software updates to versions that properly handle full password lengths, implementation of password complexity requirements, and consideration of alternative authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the attack surface.
Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems to address this vulnerability, as the reduced entropy creates a predictable attack vector that can be exploited by adversaries with moderate computational resources. The vulnerability demonstrates poor implementation of cryptographic best practices and highlights the importance of proper password handling in security-critical applications. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their Revelation installations to identify and remediate affected systems, while also implementing monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The incident underscores the critical need for cryptographic implementations to properly handle user input without introducing artificial constraints that weaken security posture.