CVE-2017-3087 in Captivate
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Captivate versions 9 and earlier have an information disclosure vulnerability resulting from abuse of the quiz reporting feature in Captivate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2019
Adobe Captivate version 9 and earlier contains an information disclosure vulnerability that stems from improper handling of quiz reporting functionality within the software. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a significant security flaw that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the quiz reporting feature is utilized, where the application fails to properly sanitize or restrict access to quiz results and associated metadata that should remain confidential.
The technical implementation flaw occurs within the quiz reporting mechanism where Captivate does not adequately validate or restrict file access permissions when generating and storing quiz result data. This allows an attacker with local system access to potentially extract and analyze quiz responses, user performance metrics, and other sensitive information that should be protected. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application level rather than network level, making it accessible through local exploitation techniques that do not require network connectivity or external attack vectors.
From an operational perspective, this information disclosure vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations using Adobe Captivate for training and assessment purposes. The compromised data could include detailed user performance analytics, incorrect answer tracking, time spent on questions, and potentially sensitive personal information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 which covers data from local systems, and T1041 which involves data staging through local network connections. Organizations that rely on Captivate for employee training, certification programs, or compliance testing face potential exposure of confidential assessment data, which could impact privacy compliance and regulatory adherence.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires local system access, making it a privilege escalation or local attack vector. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain insights into user behavior patterns, training effectiveness metrics, and potentially identify weaknesses in organizational security awareness programs. The impact extends beyond immediate data exposure to include potential long-term security implications where the disclosed information could be used for social engineering attacks or targeted phishing campaigns. Organizations should consider implementing access controls, regular security assessments, and timely patch management to mitigate this vulnerability and prevent unauthorized data access through compromised quiz reporting features.