CVE-2012-4584 in Email
Summary
by MITRE
McAfee Email and Web Security (EWS) 5.x before 5.5 Patch 6 and 5.6 before Patch 3, and McAfee Email Gateway (MEG) 7.0 before Patch 1, does not properly encrypt system-backup data, which makes it easier for remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information by reading a backup file, as demonstrated by obtaining password hashes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4584 affects McAfee Email and Web Security (EWS) and McAfee Email Gateway (MEG) products, specifically targeting versions prior to their respective security patches. This weakness represents a critical flaw in the cryptographic implementation of system backup mechanisms within these email security solutions. The vulnerability stems from improper encryption of backup data, creating a significant information disclosure risk that can be exploited by authenticated attackers with network access to the affected systems.
The technical flaw manifests in the backup encryption process where sensitive system data, including password hashes, is stored in an unencrypted or inadequately encrypted format within backup files. This design deficiency allows an authenticated attacker who can access backup files to directly read and extract sensitive information without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability specifically impacts the backup functionality of EWS versions 5.x before 5.5 Patch 6 and 5.6 before Patch 3, as well as MEG 7.0 before Patch 1, indicating a widespread issue across multiple product lines within the McAfee security portfolio. The flaw operates at the data protection layer, where backup encryption protocols fail to adequately secure sensitive information during the system backup process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for organizations relying on McAfee email security solutions, as it provides attackers with direct access to credential information that could be used for lateral movement within networks. The ability to obtain password hashes through backup file reading represents a significant compromise of authentication security, potentially enabling attackers to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to additional systems. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and data confidentiality, as backup files that should contain encrypted sensitive information are instead accessible in plaintext or weakly encrypted formats. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where backup files might be stored on systems with weaker access controls than the primary security appliances.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including credential access through backup files and privilege escalation through credential compromise. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage, and potentially CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues related to encryption implementation. Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patches for EWS 5.5 Patch 6 and 5.6 Patch 3, as well as MEG Patch 1, to address the encryption weakness in backup functionality. Additional mitigations include implementing strict access controls on backup file storage locations, monitoring for unauthorized access to backup directories, and conducting regular security assessments of backup encryption implementations. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in backup systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of data protection mechanisms within enterprise security solutions.