CVE-2015-4056 in Vision Intelligent Operations
Summary
by MITRE
The System Library in VCE Vision Intelligent Operations before 2.6.5 does not properly implement cryptography, which makes it easier for local users to discover credentials by leveraging administrative access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4056 resides within the System Library component of VCE Vision Intelligent Operations software version 2.6.4 and earlier. This issue represents a significant security weakness that stems from improper cryptographic implementation, creating exploitable conditions for local attackers who already possess administrative privileges. The flaw specifically affects the credential storage and handling mechanisms within the system library, where sensitive authentication information is not adequately protected through proper cryptographic measures.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues in software implementations. The improper implementation manifests in the system's failure to employ robust encryption algorithms or secure key management practices when storing or processing credentials. This weakness allows attackers with local administrative access to potentially extract and decipher stored authentication information through various techniques that exploit the inadequate cryptographic protections. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor for credential theft by bypassing normal security controls that should protect sensitive data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for malicious actors who have already gained administrative access to the system. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised credentials can provide persistent access to critical system resources and data. Attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate their privileges further, move laterally within the network, and potentially gain access to additional systems or databases that rely on the compromised credentials. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where administrative access is limited to a small group of users, making each compromised administrative account a significant security risk.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552, which covers credentials theft through various methods including the exploitation of weak cryptographic implementations. Organizations using affected versions of VCE Vision Intelligent Operations face a heightened risk of insider threats or compromised administrative accounts leading to unauthorized access and potential data breaches. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation even within trusted administrative environments where traditional perimeter-based security measures may not be sufficient.
Mitigation strategies should focus on upgrading to VCE Vision Intelligent Operations version 2.6.5 or later, which includes the necessary cryptographic improvements to address this weakness. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for administrative access patterns and credential usage to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful attention to ensure that all cryptographic implementations are properly validated and tested. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their credential storage mechanisms and consider implementing additional layers of protection such as multi-factor authentication and privilege separation to reduce the overall risk associated with administrative accounts.