CVE-2012-5562 in rhn-proxy
Summary
by MITRE
A flaw was found in rhn-proxy. This vulnerability may allow the rhn-proxy to transmit user credentials in clear-text when it accesses RHN Satellite. This could lead to information disclosure, where sensitive authentication details are exposed to unauthorized parties.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5562 resides within the rhn-proxy component of Red Hat Network Satellite systems, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the confidentiality of authentication mechanisms. This issue specifically affects organizations utilizing Red Hat Network Satellite for system management and monitoring, where the rhn-proxy service acts as an intermediary between client systems and the central satellite server. The flaw manifests when the rhn-proxy service establishes connections to RHN Satellite, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors positioned within the network infrastructure or those capable of intercepting network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the rhn-proxy's failure to properly encrypt authentication credentials during transmission to the RHN Satellite server. This clear-text transmission exposes sensitive user credentials including usernames and passwords to anyone who can capture network packets, effectively creating a man-in-the-middle attack surface. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, where authentication data flows unencrypted across potentially insecure network segments, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network traffic traverses multiple hops or public networks. According to CWE-312, this represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and secure communication practices, as sensitive data is transmitted without adequate cryptographic protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as compromised authentication details can lead to unauthorized access to entire system management infrastructures. Attackers who successfully intercept these clear-text credentials can gain full administrative control over managed systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the entire RHN Satellite ecosystem, as compromised proxy services can serve as entry points for broader attacks against the organization's infrastructure. This flaw directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which describes valid accounts usage through compromised credentials, and represents a classic example of how weak encryption practices can undermine security controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory encryption protocols for all proxy-server communications, deployment of network segmentation to isolate proxy services, and implementation of network monitoring to detect anomalous credential transmission patterns. The recommended solution involves configuring the rhn-proxy service to utilize secure communication channels with proper TLS encryption, ensuring that all authentication data is transmitted over encrypted connections. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access controls that limit proxy server connectivity to authorized satellite servers only, reducing the attack surface. Regular security audits should verify that all proxy services are properly configured and that no clear-text transmissions occur, as specified in NIST SP 800-53 controls for secure communications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of cryptographic best practices in system design and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect sensitive authentication mechanisms from exposure.