CVE-2016-3704 in Pulp
Summary
by MITRE
Pulp before 2.8.5 uses bash's $RANDOM in an unsafe way to generate passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3704 affects Pulp versions prior to 2.8.5 and represents a critical weakness in the password generation mechanism within the software. Pulp is a content management system designed to handle software repositories and package distribution, commonly used in enterprise environments for managing software updates and deployments. The flaw resides in how the system generates random passwords for various components and services, specifically utilizing bash's $RANDOM variable in an insecure manner that compromises the randomness and predictability of generated credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper use of bash's built-in $RANDOM variable which generates pseudo-random numbers in the range of 0 to 32767. When Pulp employs this variable for password generation, it fails to account for the limited entropy and predictable nature of the pseudo-random sequence. This approach violates fundamental security principles for cryptographic operations and password generation, as the $RANDOM variable does not provide sufficient randomness for security-sensitive applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-338, which addresses the use of cryptographically weak pseudo-random number generators, and represents a direct violation of NIST SP 800-90A standards for random number generation in security applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to potentially predict or reproduce the generated passwords used by Pulp components, thereby gaining unauthorized access to critical system resources. An attacker who can predict the password generation algorithm can compromise authentication mechanisms, access repository contents, modify package distributions, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the Pulp environment, particularly when the system generates passwords for administrative accounts, service accounts, or database connections. This weakness can be exploited as part of a broader attack chain, potentially leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized content manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3704 require immediate patching of affected Pulp installations to version 2.8.5 or later, which addresses the insecure password generation implementation. Organizations should also implement comprehensive password rotation procedures for any systems that may have been exposed to this vulnerability, particularly focusing on administrative accounts and service credentials. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all password generation mechanisms within their infrastructure to identify similar patterns that might utilize weak pseudo-random number generators. The remediation process should include reviewing system logs for any suspicious authentication attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts, and implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous access patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic practices in security-sensitive applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when basic security principles are overlooked in system design.