CVE-2012-5508 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
The error pages in Plone before 4.2.3 and 4.3 before beta 1 allow remote attackers to obtain random numbers and derive the PRNG state for password resets via unspecified vectors. NOTE: this identifier was SPLIT per ADT2 due to different vulnerability types. CVE-2012-6661 was assigned for the PRNG reseeding issue in Zope.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5508 affects the Plone content management system and specifically targets the error page functionality in versions prior to 4.2.3 and 4.3 beta 1. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that enables remote attackers to exploit predictable random number generation patterns within the system's password reset mechanism. The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of random number generation during error page processing, creating opportunities for attackers to analyze system behavior and potentially predict future random values.
The technical flaw stems from the implementation of pseudorandom number generators within Plone's error handling system, which operates under CWE-330 weakness category related to insufficient randomness. When error pages are generated, the system uses random number sequences that are not properly seeded or reseeded, allowing attackers to observe patterns in the generated numbers. This weakness directly impacts the security of password reset functionality where random tokens or session identifiers are generated. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform statistical analysis on multiple error page responses to deduce the internal state of the pseudorandom number generator, which is a classic example of a predictable random number generation issue that violates security best practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it compromises the integrity of the authentication system and enables potential account takeover attacks. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can predict the random numbers used in password reset tokens, allowing them to reset passwords for arbitrary user accounts without legitimate authorization. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation categories, specifically targeting the exploitation of predictable random number generators to bypass authentication mechanisms. The ability to derive the PRNG state means that attackers can generate valid reset tokens for any user account, effectively neutralizing the security controls designed to protect user credentials.
The vulnerability also exposes underlying issues in the Zope application server that Plone is built upon, as evidenced by the separate CVE-2012-6661 assignment for the PRNG reseeding issue in Zope itself. This demonstrates how weaknesses in foundational components can propagate through the entire application stack, affecting multiple layers of security. The lack of proper random number seeding and reseeding mechanisms creates a cascading effect where attackers can not only exploit the immediate vulnerability but also potentially compromise other security functions that rely on the same underlying random number generation pool. Organizations using affected Plone versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly in environments where password reset functionality is frequently used.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Plone installations to versions 4.2.3 or later, as well as comprehensive review of the application's random number generation practices. Security teams should implement proper reseeding of pseudorandom number generators at critical points in the application lifecycle, particularly during authentication and session management operations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as rate limiting on password reset requests and enhanced monitoring for unusual patterns in error page generation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security standards like NIST SP 800-90A for random number generation and emphasizes the need for proper entropy sources in cryptographic implementations. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components that may rely on predictable random number generation.