CVE-2017-3971 in Network Security Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cryptanalysis vulnerability in the web interface in McAfee Network Security Management (NSM) before 8.2.7.42.2 allows attackers to view confidential information via insecure use of RC4 encryption cyphers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3971 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in McAfee Network Security Management version 8.2.7.42.2 and earlier releases. This flaw manifests within the web interface component of the security management platform, which is widely deployed in enterprise environments for network monitoring and threat detection. The vulnerability stems from the insecure implementation of RC4 encryption algorithms, a cipher that has been extensively criticized and deprecated in modern cryptographic standards due to its inherent weaknesses and susceptibility to various attacks. The web interface serves as the primary administrative gateway for configuring and managing the NSM system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive network security configurations and monitoring data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through cryptanalytic attacks that target the RC4 cipher implementation within the web interface. RC4, despite being widely used in legacy systems, has known weaknesses including biases in its output stream and vulnerabilities to key recovery attacks. Attackers can leverage these weaknesses to recover encryption keys or plaintext data transmitted through the web interface, potentially gaining access to confidential information such as network traffic analysis data, security policy configurations, user credentials, and other sensitive operational details. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based administrative functions that rely on RC4 encryption for data transmission between the browser and the NSM server, creating a pathway for attackers to intercept and decrypt sensitive communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of organizations relying on McAfee NSM for network protection. Network security administrators who use the web interface for daily operations become potential targets for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to critical security infrastructure. The exposure of confidential information through this vulnerability could enable attackers to understand network topology, identify security gaps, and develop more sophisticated attack strategies against the organization's network infrastructure. Additionally, the compromised confidentiality could lead to further exploitation opportunities where attackers might use the stolen information to conduct targeted attacks, perform advanced persistent threat operations, or manipulate the security management system itself.
Organizations affected by CVE-2017-3971 should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to McAfee NSM version 8.2.7.42.2 or later, which contains the necessary cryptographic fixes. The remediation process should also involve reviewing and strengthening authentication mechanisms, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the web interface, and monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling RC4 encryption entirely within their environments and transitioning to more secure cryptographic algorithms such as AES-256. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566 related to credential access through web application exploitation. The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and regularly assessing cryptographic implementations within security infrastructure components.