CVE-2014-1467 in BlackBerry Enterprise Service
Summary
by MITRE
BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 before 10.2.1, Universal Device Service 6, Enterprise Server Express for Domino through 5.0.4, Enterprise Server Express for Exchange through 5.0.4, Enterprise Server for Domino through 5.0.4 MR6, Enterprise Server for Exchange through 5.0.4 MR6, and Enterprise Server for GroupWise through 5.0.4 MR6 log cleartext credentials during exception handling, which might allow context-dependent attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading a log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1467 represents a critical security flaw in multiple BlackBerry enterprise server products that affects versions prior to specific patch releases. This issue stems from improper exception handling mechanisms that inadvertently log cleartext authentication credentials to log files, creating a significant exposure point for sensitive information. The affected software includes BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 versions before 10.2.1, Universal Device Service 6, and various enterprise server products for Domino, Exchange, and GroupWise platforms. The flaw manifests during error conditions when the system attempts to log exception details, resulting in plaintext credentials being written to log files that could be accessed by unauthorized individuals.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the logging subsystem's failure to sanitize authentication data during exception processing. When an error occurs within the enterprise server environment, the system generates exception logs containing detailed information about the failure. However, these logs include cleartext credentials from authentication requests, which are not properly filtered or redacted before being written to persistent storage. This design flaw creates a situation where any individual with access to the log files can extract plaintext passwords and authentication tokens, effectively compromising the security of the entire enterprise environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates silently in the background, with no explicit warning or indication that credentials are being logged.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for enterprise environments that rely on BlackBerry enterprise services for secure communications and device management. Attackers with access to system logs or those who can exploit other vulnerabilities to gain access to the logging infrastructure can extract plaintext credentials and use them to escalate privileges, access additional systems, or conduct further attacks within the network. The impact extends beyond immediate credential compromise, as these extracted credentials may provide access to email accounts, enterprise resources, and potentially other interconnected systems that share authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the principle of least privilege and can undermine the entire security posture of organizations using these BlackBerry server products.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for all affected versions, implementing proper log file access controls, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access to log files. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-532, which describes "Information Exposure Through Log Files," and represents a clear violation of security best practices regarding sensitive data handling. Additionally, this issue relates to ATT&CK technique T1070.004, "File Deletion," as attackers may attempt to access log files containing credentials, and T1566.001, "Phishing," since compromised credentials could be used for further social engineering attacks. The remediation process should include comprehensive log file auditing, access control reviews, and implementation of centralized logging solutions that properly handle sensitive information. Organizations should also consider implementing credential rotation procedures for all affected systems and establishing automated alerts for suspicious log file access patterns to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.