CVE-2017-12819 in HASP SRM
Summary
by MITRE
Remote manipulations with language pack updater lead to NTLM-relay attack for system user in Gemalto's HASP SRM, Sentinel HASP and Sentinel LDK products prior to Sentinel LDK RTE version 7.55.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12819 represents a critical security flaw within Gemalto's software protection products including HASP SRM, Sentinel HASP, and Sentinel LDK systems. This weakness stems from improper handling of language pack updates that creates an avenue for remote attackers to execute NTLM relay attacks against system users. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to Sentinel LDK RTE version 7.55, indicating a targeted issue within the update mechanism of these protection platforms. The flaw operates by allowing malicious actors to manipulate the language pack updater process, which subsequently enables them to relay NTLM authentication challenges to other systems within the network.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of weak authentication mechanisms during the language update process. When legitimate users or systems attempt to update language packs, the software fails to properly validate the authenticity of the update source, creating an opportunity for attackers to intercept and manipulate authentication tokens. This weakness aligns with CWE-502, which addresses deserialization of untrusted data, and specifically relates to improper authentication handling in update mechanisms. The NTLM relay attack exploits the fact that the vulnerable systems do not adequately verify the source of language pack updates, allowing attackers to capture authentication credentials and redirect them to other services within the network infrastructure.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing Gemalto protection products, particularly in environments where these systems operate with elevated privileges or access to critical infrastructure. The attack vector enables remote exploitation without requiring user interaction or prior authentication access, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to network resources, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially transforms a routine update process into a potential gateway for broader security breaches, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting and T1071 for application layer protocol usage.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of the official patches released by Gemalto for Sentinel LDK RTE version 7.55 and later. Network segmentation and monitoring of update processes can provide additional defensive layers while awaiting the official security patches. The implementation of network access controls to restrict communication with the vulnerable systems during update processes, combined with enhanced logging and monitoring of authentication events, can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level protections against NTLM authentication relay attacks, including disabling unnecessary authentication protocols and enforcing secure authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability underscores the importance of secure update mechanisms and proper authentication validation in protection software, particularly in environments where system integrity and access control are paramount considerations.