CVE-2016-10512 in FaxFinder
Summary
by MITRE
MultiTech FaxFinder before 4.1.2 stores Passwords unencrypted for maintaining the test connectivity function of its LDAP configuration. These credentials are retrieved by the system when the LDAP configuration page is opened and are embedded directly into the HTML source code in cleartext.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2022
This vulnerability resides in the MultiTech FaxFinder device firmware version 4.1.1 and earlier, where the system fails to properly secure authentication credentials during LDAP configuration testing. The flaw manifests when users attempt to test LDAP connectivity through the web interface, as the system retrieves and displays the stored credentials in cleartext within the HTML source code of the configuration page. This represents a critical security oversight that directly violates fundamental principles of credential protection and secure configuration management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the web application layer of the FaxFinder system. When administrators access the LDAP configuration page to test connectivity, the system retrieves stored credentials from its internal configuration storage and embeds them directly into the HTML response without any form of encryption or obfuscation. This cleartext exposure occurs at the application level, making the credentials immediately accessible to any attacker who can intercept network traffic or gain access to the web interface. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in data protection and secure credential handling, aligning with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials).
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with immediate access to legitimate LDAP credentials that can be used for unauthorized authentication across the network. An attacker who gains access to the FaxFinder web interface or intercepts the network traffic can extract these cleartext credentials and potentially escalate privileges to gain access to the LDAP directory service and all associated resources. This creates a significant attack surface that could lead to lateral movement within the network, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data. The vulnerability also violates security best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing for Information), as it provides attackers with legitimate credentials that can be used for further exploitation.
The remediation approach requires immediate implementation of proper credential storage mechanisms that encrypt sensitive data at rest and ensure that authentication credentials are never exposed in cleartext within web responses. Organizations should upgrade to MultiTech FaxFinder version 4.1.2 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through proper encryption of stored credentials and removal of cleartext exposure in web interface responses. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the FaxFinder web interface, and administrators should regularly audit access controls and credential usage. The solution must adhere to industry standards including NIST SP 800-53 controls for secure configuration management and should implement proper input validation and output encoding to prevent similar exposure vulnerabilities in the future.