CVE-2013-7128 in Steam OS
Summary
by MITRE
Valve Bug Reporter in the valve-bugreporter package 2.10+bsos1 in Valve SteamOS Beta stores cleartext credentials in a .valve-bugreporter.cfg file upon a Remember Credentials action, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading this file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2013
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7128 represents a critical security flaw in the Valve Bug Reporter component of SteamOS Beta systems. This issue manifests within the valve-bugreporter package version 2.10+bsos1 where the application fails to implement proper cryptographic protection for user credentials. When users select the "Remember Credentials" functionality, the system persists authentication information in an unencrypted configuration file named .valve-bugreporter.cfg. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles governing credential storage and represents a classic example of insecure data handling practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to employ encryption or hashing mechanisms when storing user authentication tokens. The .valve-bugreporter.cfg file exists in a location accessible to local users, making it susceptible to unauthorized reading and extraction of stored credentials. This weakness aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and inadequate security controls during credential persistence operations, creating an attack surface where any local user with file system access can retrieve sensitive authentication data without requiring additional privileges or sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables persistent unauthorized access to Valve's bug reporting infrastructure. Local users can exploit this weakness to gain access to systems that may have been configured with administrative privileges or elevated permissions within the bug reporting environment. This vulnerability creates opportunities for privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised systems, as attackers can leverage the stolen credentials to access additional resources or escalate their access level. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal skill or resources to exploit, making it attractive to both malicious actors and potential attackers seeking unauthorized system access.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the broader ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1555.003 technique for "Credentials from Password Stores" and T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" when applicable. The mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper credential storage mechanisms including encryption of sensitive data at rest, removal of cleartext credential storage, and enforcement of least privilege access controls. System administrators should immediately disable the "Remember Credentials" feature or implement proper encryption of the configuration file, while also ensuring that all stored credentials are protected through industry-standard encryption algorithms such as AES-256. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that no sensitive information is stored in unencrypted formats, and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to credential storage locations. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper security controls during application development phases to prevent such exposure of sensitive data through improper credential management.