CVE-2016-0201 in Security Network Protection
Summary
by MITRE
GSKit in IBM Security Network Protection 5.3.1 before 5.3.1.7 and 5.3.2 allows remote attackers to discover credentials by triggering an MD5 collision.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0201 affects GSKit within IBM Security Network Protection versions 5.3.1 through 5.3.1.6 and 5.3.2, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to extract sensitive authentication credentials. This issue stems from the improper handling of MD5 hash computations within the cryptographic toolkit, creating an avenue for attackers to exploit weaknesses in the underlying hashing mechanism. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes certain cryptographic operations that involve MD5 collisions, allowing adversaries to potentially recover stored credentials through carefully crafted attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the cryptographic processing components of GSKit where MD5 collision attacks can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to credential information. According to CWE-327, this represents a weakness in the use of a broken cryptographic algorithm, specifically targeting the MD5 hashing function which has known collision vulnerabilities since its discovery in 2005. The attack methodology exploits the fundamental weakness in MD5's design that allows for the creation of two different inputs producing identical hash outputs, enabling attackers to manipulate the cryptographic processing flow to extract sensitive credential data.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it compromises the entire security posture of systems relying on IBM Security Network Protection for authentication and access control. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access or local privileges, making the attack surface significantly broader. Systems utilizing affected versions become vulnerable to credential recovery attacks that can lead to unauthorized access to protected resources, potentially enabling further exploitation through lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of authentication mechanisms, undermining trust in the cryptographic infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0201 require immediate patching of affected IBM Security Network Protection versions to 5.3.1.7 or later, as well as 5.3.2.1 and subsequent releases that address the MD5 collision vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish network segmentation to limit the impact of successful attacks. Security teams must also review and update cryptographic policies to ensure that MD5 is not used in authentication contexts, following NIST guidelines that recommend against MD5 usage for cryptographic purposes since 2011. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1552.001 for credentials from password storage, as it enables attackers to extract stored credentials through cryptographic weaknesses. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems using vulnerable versions of GSKit or similar cryptographic libraries, as the MD5 collision vulnerability affects systems where this algorithm remains in use for authentication or integrity verification purposes.