CVE-2013-5635 in Endpoint Security
Summary
by MITRE
Media Encryption EPM Explorer in Check Point Endpoint Security through E80.50 does not properly maintain the state of password failures, which makes it easier for physically proximate attackers to bypass the device-locking protection mechanism by entering password guesses within multiple Unlock.exe processes that are running simultaneously.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5635 affects Check Point Endpoint Security E80.50 and earlier versions, specifically within the Media Encryption EPM Explorer component. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the device's authentication mechanism that undermines the fundamental security principle of protecting against unauthorized access through brute force attacks. The vulnerability resides in how the system manages password failure states across multiple concurrent Unlock.exe processes, creating a significant gap in the device-locking protection scheme that was designed to prevent unauthorized physical access.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the improper state management of password failure counters across multiple simultaneous Unlock.exe processes. When users attempt to unlock the device, the system should track failed authentication attempts and enforce device locking mechanisms after a predetermined number of failures. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to bypass this protection by running multiple instances of Unlock.exe simultaneously, effectively resetting or circumventing the failure counter that should trigger device lockout. This architectural weakness enables attackers to perform parallel password guessing attempts without the system properly accounting for cumulative failed attempts across different process instances.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for physically proximate attackers who have direct access to the target device. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed quickly using standard tools or scripts. Attackers can simultaneously launch multiple password guessing attempts across different Unlock.exe processes, exponentially increasing their chances of success while remaining undetected by the system's built-in protection mechanisms. The vulnerability essentially transforms a controlled authentication process into an uncontrolled brute force attack that can be executed in parallel, making it significantly more effective than traditional sequential guessing methods.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data compromise and system infiltration. Organizations relying on Check Point Endpoint Security for device protection face a heightened risk of unauthorized personnel gaining access to sensitive information stored on endpoint devices. This weakness directly violates security principles outlined in the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) catalog, specifically relating to improper handling of authentication state information and inadequate protection against brute force attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which describes the use of password guessing to gain access to systems, but with the added complexity of parallelized attack execution that circumvents traditional rate limiting measures.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Check Point Endpoint Security versions that address this vulnerability, implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unusual authentication patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls to limit access to endpoint devices and establish more robust device lockout policies that account for parallel authentication attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper state management in security-critical applications and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of authentication mechanisms under concurrent usage scenarios. Additionally, system administrators should review and strengthen their overall endpoint security posture, including regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes that can identify similar state management weaknesses in other security components.