CVE-2012-3818 in Revelation
Summary
by MITRE
The fpm exporter in Revelation 0.4.13-2 and earlier encrypts the version number but not the password when exporting a file, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3818 resides within the fpm exporter functionality of Revelation version 0.4.13-2 and earlier versions, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security of password-protected files. This weakness specifically affects the encryption implementation where the version number is properly encrypted while the password field remains unencrypted, creating a significant security gap that adversaries can exploit to access sensitive authentication data.
The technical flaw manifests in the asymmetric encryption approach employed by the Revelation fpm exporter, which demonstrates poor cryptographic design practices. When users attempt to export files containing password-protected entries, the system applies encryption to the version number field but fails to encrypt the corresponding password values. This inconsistency creates a scenario where local attackers with access to the exported file can easily extract password information, as the encryption mechanism does not uniformly protect all sensitive data elements within the exported structure. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper encryption of data elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with direct access to authentication credentials that could be used for unauthorized system access or lateral movement within compromised environments. Local users who gain access to the exported files can immediately extract password information without requiring additional exploitation techniques, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user systems or environments where exported files might be stored on shared or accessible media. The risk is amplified when considering that Revelation is typically used for password management, meaning the exported files contain highly sensitive authentication data.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers the exploitation of unencrypted credentials, and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and data protection. The weakness essentially creates a backdoor for local attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms by simply reading the exported file structure. Organizations using Revelation software should consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to systems protected by the password manager. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the Revelation tool is used for managing critical system passwords or access credentials.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3818 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that address the encryption implementation flaw, ensuring that all data elements within exported files are uniformly protected through consistent encryption mechanisms. Security administrators should also implement file access controls and monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to exported password files, while considering the deployment of additional encryption layers for sensitive data storage. Regular security assessments should verify that all exported data elements are properly encrypted and that no similar asymmetric encryption vulnerabilities exist within the application's data handling processes.