CVE-2012-3466 in gnome-keyring
Summary
by MITRE
GNOME gnome-keyring 3.4.0 through 3.4.1, when gpg-cache-method is set to "idle" or "timeout," does not properly limit the amount of time a passphrase is cached, which allows attackers to have an unspecified impact via unknown attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3466 affects the GNOME gnome-keyring component version 3.4.0 through 3.4.1, specifically when the gpg-cache-method configuration parameter is set to either "idle" or "timeout" modes. This issue represents a critical security flaw in the cryptographic key management system that is widely used in Linux desktop environments. The vulnerability stems from improper time limitation mechanisms within the passphrase caching functionality, creating a window of opportunity for unauthorized access to encrypted data and cryptographic operations. The affected system relies on GNOME keyring to manage and cache passphrases for GPG (GNU Privacy Guard) operations, which are essential for secure email encryption and digital signatures in enterprise and personal computing environments.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient implementation of cache expiration controls within the GNOME keyring daemon. When gpg-cache-method is configured to "idle" or "timeout," the system should automatically invalidate cached passphrases after predetermined intervals or after periods of inactivity. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the absence of proper time constraints, potentially maintaining access to cached credentials far beyond the intended security boundaries. This misconfiguration creates a persistent security risk where cached passphrases remain accessible indefinitely, undermining the fundamental security principle of credential expiration and access control. The vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and specifically relates to improper privilege management where the system fails to enforce time-based credential expiration. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects the core cryptographic infrastructure used by many desktop environments, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and other distributions that rely on GNOME keyring for secure credential management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to potentially access sensitive encrypted data, perform unauthorized cryptographic operations, and maintain persistent access to systems that depend on GPG for security. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple exploitation pathways may exist, including local privilege escalation, session hijacking, or cross-privilege attacks where an attacker with minimal access can leverage the cached credentials to gain broader system access. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where users frequently access encrypted email systems, digital signatures, and other GPG-dependent operations that require frequent passphrase entry. The impact is amplified in environments where users maintain long-running desktop sessions, as the cached credentials can remain accessible for extended periods, potentially spanning days or weeks. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.005, which covers credentials from password stores, and represents a significant weakening of the credential protection mechanisms that organizations rely upon for secure communications and data handling.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and include multiple layers of defensive measures. System administrators should immediately update to GNOME keyring versions that address this specific caching mechanism flaw, typically versions 3.4.2 or later, which implement proper time-based expiration controls. Additionally, the gpg-cache-method configuration should be carefully reviewed and potentially set to "never" or "prompt" modes to eliminate the caching behavior entirely. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around cached credential usage. Network segmentation and access control policies should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, while regular security audits should verify that the cache configuration parameters are properly enforced. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date cryptographic toolchains and implementing automated patch management processes that can quickly address such security flaws before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.