CVE-2014-8528 in Network Data Loss Prevention
Summary
by MITRE
McAfee Network Data Loss Prevention (NDLP) before 9.3 logs session IDs, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the audit log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8528 affects McAfee Network Data Loss Prevention version 9.3 and earlier, presenting a significant information disclosure risk within enterprise security infrastructure. This flaw resides in the logging mechanisms of the NDLP system, where session identifiers are recorded in audit logs without proper sanitization or access controls. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient logging security practices that can be exploited by malicious actors with local system access to gain unauthorized insights into network sessions and potentially sensitive operational data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the NDLP system's failure to properly secure session identifiers within its audit logging functionality. When the system processes network sessions, it records session IDs alongside other operational data in log files that are accessible to local users. This design flaw creates an information disclosure scenario where unauthorized local access can lead to the extraction of session identifiers that may contain sensitive network information, user credentials, or operational details that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper logging practices, and represents a clear violation of secure logging principles that should prevent sensitive data from being stored in accessible locations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability undermines the security posture of organizations relying on McAfee NDLP for data protection. Local users who can access audit logs gain the ability to reconstruct session information that may include user activities, network traffic patterns, and potentially sensitive data flows. This information could be exploited to understand system behavior, identify security gaps, or plan more sophisticated attacks against the network infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share system resources or where privilege escalation attacks are possible, as the information disclosure could provide attackers with valuable intelligence for lateral movement and persistence within the network. The impact extends beyond immediate information disclosure to potentially enable credential theft, session hijacking, or targeted attacks against specific network segments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting local access to audit log files, implementing proper log file permissions, and ensuring that session identifiers are not logged in plain text format. The recommended approach involves configuring the NDLP system to either sanitize session identifiers before logging or to implement access controls that prevent unauthorized local users from reading audit logs. System administrators should also consider implementing centralized log management solutions with proper access controls and audit trails to prevent local users from accessing sensitive information directly. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles related to privilege escalation and credential access, as local access to audit logs can be leveraged to gain deeper system insights and potentially escalate privileges. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar logging vulnerabilities across their security infrastructure and ensure that all logging practices follow secure configuration standards. The remediation process should include updating to McAfee NDLP version 9.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this information disclosure vulnerability and prevent unauthorized access to session identifiers through audit log files.