CVE-2014-9294 in NTP Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
util/ntp-keygen.c in ntp-keygen in NTP before 4.2.7p230 uses a weak RNG seed, which makes it easier for remote attackers to defeat cryptographic protection mechanisms via a brute-force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9294 affects the Network Time Protocol implementation in ntp-keygen utility, specifically within the util/ntp-keygen.c component of NTP versions prior to 4.2.7p230. This flaw represents a significant weakness in the cryptographic security framework of the NTP system, which is widely deployed across enterprise networks and critical infrastructure for time synchronization. The issue stems from the use of a weak random number generator seed during the key generation process, fundamentally undermining the security guarantees that cryptographic keys should provide.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient entropy collection during the initialization of the random number generator used by ntp-keygen. When generating cryptographic keys for time synchronization protocols, the system relies on pseudo-random number generation to create unpredictable key material. However, the weak seed means that the random number generator starts with predictable or insufficiently random initial values, making the generated keys susceptible to brute-force attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values in cryptographic contexts, and represents a failure in proper entropy seeding as outlined in NIST SP 800-90A guidelines for random number generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cryptographic weakness, as it creates a pathway for remote attackers to compromise the integrity of time synchronization services. Attackers can systematically guess or brute-force the cryptographic keys used in NTP authentication mechanisms, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks on time synchronization protocols. This could result in unauthorized modification of time stamps, disruption of time-sensitive operations, or the ability to manipulate network time services that many critical systems depend upon for security operations. The vulnerability affects the core security infrastructure of networks where NTP is deployed, particularly impacting systems that rely on authenticated time synchronization for security protocols such as Kerberos, SSL/TLS, and various network security mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected NTP installations to versions 4.2.7p230 or later, which address the weak random number generation issue through improved entropy collection and seeding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious network activity related to NTP services and consider deploying additional authentication layers or alternative time synchronization protocols where feasible. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.003, which covers credentials from password storage programs, as the compromised keys could enable further attacks on network services that depend on secure time synchronization. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable NTP versions and ensure proper entropy sources are available in the operating environment to prevent similar issues in other cryptographic implementations.