CVE-2012-4589 in Enterprise Mobility Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Login.aspx in the Portal in McAfee Enterprise Mobility Manager (EMM) before 10.0 does not have an off autocomplete attribute for unspecified form fields, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access by leveraging an unattended workstation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4589 affects the McAfee Enterprise Mobility Manager (EMM) platform version 10.0 and earlier, specifically targeting the Login.aspx page within the Portal component. This security flaw represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and poor web application security configuration that creates exploitable conditions for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper autocomplete attributes on form fields within the authentication interface, a configuration oversight that significantly weakens the security posture of the mobile device management solution.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the web form design where sensitive authentication fields lack the autocomplete="off" attribute specification. This seemingly minor configuration issue has substantial security implications as it allows web browsers to automatically populate form fields with previously entered credentials. When users access the login page on shared or unattended workstations, the browser's credential saving mechanisms can inadvertently expose authentication information to unauthorized individuals who subsequently gain access to the system. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Portal component of McAfee EMM, which serves as the primary interface for administrators and users to interact with the mobile device management platform.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk vector for privilege escalation and unauthorized access attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply accessing an unattended workstation where a user has previously logged in, potentially gaining administrative privileges to manage mobile devices within the organization's fleet. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-623, which addresses the use of insecure autocomplete functionality in web applications, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in access control mechanisms. The threat model is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where multiple administrators may use shared workstations or where physical security controls are inadequate.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through simple browser-based attacks on unattended systems. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments with poor physical security controls or where users do not properly log out of systems. Organizations utilizing McAfee EMM version 10.0 and earlier are at risk of unauthorized access to their mobile device management infrastructure, potentially leading to full administrative control over mobile device policies and device management capabilities. The vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers credential access through social engineering and unattended workstations, demonstrating how this configuration flaw can be leveraged in real-world attack scenarios.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures by upgrading to McAfee EMM version 10.0 or later, which addresses this specific vulnerability through proper autocomplete attribute implementation. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict physical security policies for workstations where administrative access occurs, implement proper session management controls, and consider deploying browser security configurations that enforce autocomplete restrictions across all administrative interfaces. The remediation process should include comprehensive security awareness training for administrators regarding the risks associated with unattended workstations and the importance of proper logout procedures to prevent credential leakage through browser-based mechanisms.