CVE-2015-4543 in RSA Archer GRC
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Archer GRC 5.x before 5.5.3 uses cleartext for stored passwords in unspecified circumstances, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information by reading database fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4543 affects EMC RSA Archer GRC version 5.x prior to 5.5.3, representing a critical security flaw in the handling of stored credentials within the application's database architecture. This issue manifests when the system stores passwords in cleartext format rather than implementing proper cryptographic hashing or encryption mechanisms, creating a significant exposure point for unauthorized access. The vulnerability specifically impacts the database storage layer where user authentication credentials are persisted, allowing malicious actors with database access privileges to directly extract sensitive information from these unprotected fields.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to apply industry-standard password security practices during the credential storage process. According to CWE-312, this represents a cleartext storage of sensitive data vulnerability where passwords are stored without proper cryptographic protection, making them immediately accessible to anyone who can read the database fields. The authenticated user requirement for exploitation indicates that attackers must first establish legitimate access to the system, typically through valid credentials or other initial compromise vectors, before leveraging this weakness to escalate their privileges and access additional user accounts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for organizations relying on EMC RSA Archer GRC for governance, risk, and compliance management. The exposure of stored passwords enables attackers to potentially gain access to multiple user accounts within the system, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications of critical business processes, data manipulation, or complete system compromise. The remote nature of the attack vector means that an authenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability from external network positions, while the cleartext storage makes the extraction of credentials particularly straightforward and efficient.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and privilege escalation. Attackers could leverage this weakness as part of a broader attack chain where initial access is established through other means, followed by credential harvesting to maintain persistence and expand their operational capabilities within the target environment. The vulnerability also presents significant risk for organizations subject to compliance regulations such as SOX, HIPAA, or PCI DSS, where the improper storage of authentication credentials violates fundamental security requirements for protecting sensitive information.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to EMC RSA Archer GRC version 5.5.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the cleartext password storage issue. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of existing database credentials to identify and remediate any exposed passwords, while implementing proper password hashing mechanisms throughout the application infrastructure. The implementation of database access controls and monitoring systems can help detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive credential fields, while regular security assessments should verify that all stored authentication information is properly encrypted and protected against unauthorized disclosure.