CVE-2015-5997 in Education Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Impero Education Pro before 5105 uses a hardcoded CBC key and initialization vector derived from a hash of the Imp3ro string, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain plaintext data by sniffing the network for ciphertext data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5997 affects Impero Education Pro versions prior to 5105, presenting a critical cryptographic weakness that undermines the security of data transmission within educational network environments. This flaw resides in the implementation of symmetric encryption mechanisms used by the software to protect sensitive information during network communication. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the use of a hardcoded cryptographic key and initialization vector that are generated from a predictable hash of the string "Imp3ro," creating a fundamental weakness in the encryption scheme that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a violation of established cryptographic best practices, where the software employs a static key derivation process instead of implementing proper key management protocols. The hardcoded nature of the CBC (Cipher Block Chaining) key and initialization vector creates a deterministic encryption scheme that allows attackers to perform cryptographic analysis on captured network traffic. When network sniffing tools capture ciphertext data transmitted by the vulnerable software, the predictable key derivation process enables attackers to reverse-engineer the encryption parameters and subsequently decrypt the intercepted communications without requiring additional authentication or authorization.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-327, which addresses the use of broken or weak cryptographic algorithms, and CWE-321, which covers the use of hard-coded cryptographic keys. The operational impact of this weakness extends beyond simple data confidentiality breaches, as it can lead to unauthorized access to educational data, student information, and potentially sensitive administrative communications within school networks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in educational environments where network security may be less robust than in enterprise settings, making it easier for attackers to intercept network traffic and exploit the predictable encryption scheme.
The attack vector for this vulnerability involves passive network monitoring and traffic interception, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1071.3 for application layer protocols. Attackers can leverage standard packet capture tools to gather ciphertext data and then apply cryptographic analysis to derive the hardcoded key parameters. This weakness significantly reduces the effective security posture of the affected systems and can lead to comprehensive data breaches that compromise the privacy and security of educational institutions. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in implementing proper cryptographic key management practices, where the system relies on a static, predictable key derivation method rather than dynamic key generation and secure key storage mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates to versions that implement proper cryptographic key management and dynamic key generation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and additional encryption layers to protect against potential exploitation. The remediation process must include replacing the hardcoded encryption parameters with secure, randomly generated keys and ensuring that all cryptographic implementations follow industry standards such as those specified in NIST SP 800-57 for key management and FIPS 140-2 for cryptographic module validation. Additionally, network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish proper incident response procedures to address potential security breaches.