CVE-2014-9579 in Security SENSE
Summary
by MITRE
VDG Security SENSE (formerly DIVA) 2.3.13 stores administrator credentials in cleartext, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading the plugin configuration files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9579 affects VDG Security SENSE version 2.3.13, formerly known as DIVA, presenting a critical security flaw in how the system handles administrative authentication credentials. This issue stems from the application's insecure storage mechanism that persists administrator login details in plaintext format within plugin configuration files. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in secure credential management practices and directly violates established security principles for protecting sensitive authentication data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's configuration files containing cleartext administrator credentials, which are stored without any form of encryption or obfuscation. When system administrators configure the plugin settings, the system writes the username and password directly into the configuration file in readable format, making these credentials immediately accessible to any entity with file system access. This design flaw creates an inherent security risk where unauthorized users or attackers who gain access to the file system can simply read these configuration files to extract administrative credentials and subsequently assume administrative privileges within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the entire system. Attackers who can read the configuration files gain immediate administrative access to the VDG Security SENSE application, enabling them to perform any administrative function including modifying security policies, accessing sensitive data, creating additional administrative accounts, or even completely compromising the system's integrity. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the system's administrative functions, bypassing all normal authentication mechanisms and rendering the application's security controls ineffective. The risk is particularly severe because the vulnerability exists at the configuration level rather than being a runtime issue, meaning that even if the application itself is secure, the stored credentials can be exploited regardless of other security measures in place.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure credential handling. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers the use of credentials in configuration files, and T1078, which involves legitimate credentials used for persistence. The vulnerability also relates to broader security frameworks addressing secure configuration management and proper credential lifecycle handling. Organizations using this version of VDG Security SENSE are at significant risk of unauthorized access and potential system compromise, as the attack surface expands to include any user with file system read access to the configuration files.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the application to a version that properly encrypts or obfuscates stored credentials, implementing strict file system access controls to limit who can read the configuration files, and conducting a comprehensive audit of all stored credentials within the system. Organizations should also implement proper credential rotation procedures and consider transitioning to more secure authentication mechanisms that do not rely on cleartext storage of administrative credentials. Additionally, system administrators should review and tighten file permissions on configuration directories to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files, while implementing monitoring for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate credential theft attempts.