CVE-2014-9577 in Security SENSE
Summary
by MITRE
VDG Security SENSE (formerly DIVA) 2.3.13 sends the user database when a user logs in, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain usernames and password hashes by logging in to TCP port 51410 and reading the response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9577 affects VDG Security SENSE version 2.3.13, formerly known as DIVA, presenting a critical security flaw in the authentication and data handling mechanisms of this network security solution. This issue resides within the software's implementation of user authentication protocols, specifically manifesting when the system processes login requests on TCP port 51410. The flaw represents a significant weakness in the system's access control and data protection measures, as it exposes sensitive user credentials through an improperly secured authentication process that should only validate user credentials rather than disseminate them.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the software's design decision to transmit the complete user database during the authentication process instead of merely verifying the provided credentials. When an authenticated user attempts to log in to the system via TCP port 51410, the system responds with a comprehensive dataset containing username and password hash information. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive authentication data without requiring privileged access or complex attack vectors. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices that are commonly associated with insecure data handling patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential exposure, creating significant risks for organizations relying on VDG Security SENSE for network protection. Remote authenticated attackers can leverage this weakness to harvest username and password hash combinations, potentially enabling them to conduct credential stuffing attacks, perform offline password cracking attempts, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. This vulnerability directly violates several security principles including the principle of least privilege and the concept of secure credential handling as outlined in industry standards. The exposure of password hashes through legitimate authentication channels represents a critical failure in the system's security architecture and could lead to widespread compromise of user accounts and network resources.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of VDG Security SENSE should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability, including network segmentation to restrict access to TCP port 51410, implementing strong authentication controls, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a clear violation of the principle that sensitive information should not be disclosed during normal operational procedures. Additionally, this weakness maps to ATT&CK technique T1078, which covers "Valid Accounts" and demonstrates how improper authentication handling can enable attackers to obtain legitimate credentials for system access. The security implications of this flaw underscore the importance of proper access control implementation and the necessity of conducting thorough security assessments of authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized data disclosure.