CVE-2012-5301 in FTP Server
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of Cerberus FTP Server before 5.0.4.0 supports the DES cipher for SSH sessions, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network and performing a brute-force attack on the encrypted data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5301 affects Cerberus FTP Server versions prior to 5.0.4.0 and represents a significant cryptographic weakness that compromises the security of SSH communications. This issue stems from the server's default configuration that enables the use of the Data Encryption Standard cipher, a cryptographic algorithm that has been deprecated due to its inherent security limitations. The DES cipher operates with a 56-bit key length, making it susceptible to brute-force attacks that can be executed with modern computational resources, thereby undermining the confidentiality assurances typically expected from secure communication protocols.
The technical flaw manifests in the server's cryptographic configuration where DES encryption is enabled alongside stronger cipher suites, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit through network sniffing operations. When users establish SSH sessions with the vulnerable server, the communication channel may fall back to DES encryption, particularly when client and server negotiate cipher preferences. This behavior violates security best practices outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 and CWE-327, which specifically identify the use of weak cryptographic algorithms like DES as a critical security vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers credential access through network sniffing and data interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the means to perform successful brute-force attacks against encrypted sessions. Network reconnaissance tools can capture SSH traffic and analyze the encrypted data streams, potentially recovering authentication credentials, sensitive files, or other confidential information transmitted over the compromised connection. This risk is particularly severe in environments where the server handles sensitive data or administrative access, as the vulnerability could enable unauthorized access to critical systems. The threat landscape is further complicated by the fact that DES encryption is considered cryptographically broken and should never be used in production environments according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5301 require immediate configuration changes to disable DES cipher support and enforce the use of strong cryptographic algorithms. System administrators should update to Cerberus FTP Server version 5.0.4.0 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through improved default configurations. Additionally, security policies should mandate the use of AES-256 or higher strength ciphers, with DES and 3DES explicitly disabled in SSH server configurations. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect and alert on the use of weak ciphers, while also conducting regular security assessments to ensure cryptographic configurations align with current security standards. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to verify that the updated configuration maintains service availability while eliminating the cryptographic weaknesses that make the system vulnerable to network-based attacks.