CVE-2018-11634 in PowerMedia XMS
Summary
by MITRE
Plaintext Storage of Passwords in the administrative console in Dialogic PowerMedia XMS before 3.5 SU2 allows local users to access the web application's user passwords in cleartext by reading /var/www/xms/xmsdb/default.db.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Dialogic PowerMedia XMS version 3.5 SU1 and earlier, where administrative credentials are stored in plaintext within a database file. The issue stems from poor secure coding practices that fail to implement proper password hashing or encryption mechanisms for sensitive authentication data. Attackers with local system access can directly read the database file at /var/www/xms/xmsdb/default.db to obtain cleartext passwords, eliminating the need for complex exploitation techniques. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1003.001 for credential access via os credential dumping. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, where authentication data is stored without adequate protection mechanisms, creating an immediate and severe risk for systems running vulnerable versions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to gain full administrative control over the PowerMedia XMS system. Once local access is obtained, threat actors can leverage these cleartext credentials to perform unauthorized system modifications, data exfiltration, and establish persistent access points within the network. The vulnerability affects the entire administrative console functionality, potentially compromising all user accounts and system configurations. Security professionals should note that this issue typically requires minimal attack surface to exploit, as local system access is sufficient to read the database file. The presence of such plaintext credentials creates a cascading risk where compromised administrative accounts can lead to broader network infiltration, especially when administrators reuse passwords across multiple systems.
Organizations must implement immediate remediation measures including upgrading to Dialogic PowerMedia XMS version 3.5 SU2 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through proper password encryption mechanisms. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of all database files and configuration settings to identify any additional cleartext credential storage issues. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing proper password hashing using industry-standard algorithms such as bcrypt, scrypt, or PBKDF2, as specified in NIST SP 800-132 guidelines for password storage. Additionally, access controls should be strengthened to limit local system access to only authorized personnel, and regular security assessments should be performed to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive system files, while incident response procedures should be updated to address credential compromise scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and proper authentication data handling as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001 security standards.