CVE-2018-16987 in Squash
Summary
by MITRE
Squash TM through 1.18.0 presents the cleartext passwords of external services in the administration panel, as demonstrated by a ta-server-password field in the HTML source code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16987 affects Squash TM version 1.18.0 and earlier, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that exposes cleartext credentials within the application's administrative interface. This vulnerability specifically manifests when external service authentication details are stored and displayed in the administration panel, with the ta-server-password field being explicitly mentioned as a clear example of sensitive data exposure in the HTML source code. The flaw fundamentally compromises the security posture of the system by making authentication credentials directly accessible to unauthorized users who can view the application's source code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive configuration data within the Squash TM application's web interface. When administrators configure external services such as test automation servers or other integrated systems, the application stores these credentials in a manner that does not adequately protect them from unauthorized access. The cleartext exposure occurs because the application fails to implement proper data sanitization or encryption mechanisms before rendering these credentials in the HTML output. This represents a direct violation of security best practices for credential management and demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-209, which specifically addresses information exposure through error handling, and potentially CWE-312, concerning the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage or transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Squash TM for test management and automation. Any user with access to the administrative panel or the ability to view HTML source code can immediately extract authentication credentials for external services, potentially enabling them to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components such as test automation servers, databases, or other integrated systems. This exposure creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by both internal malicious actors and external threat groups. The vulnerability essentially transforms the administrative interface into a credential repository, making it trivial for attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the network environment. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations and potential data breaches when such sensitive information is exposed, particularly in environments where the application interfaces with systems containing sensitive or regulated data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Squash TM version 1.18.1 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched and proper credential handling mechanisms have been implemented. The fix typically involves implementing secure credential storage using encrypted configuration files or secure vault mechanisms, along with proper input sanitization and output encoding to prevent cleartext exposure in web interfaces. Additionally, administrators should implement strict access controls for the administrative panel, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access sensitive configuration data. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following the principle of least privilege and implementing proper secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their application interfaces to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities and implement proper security controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that no other sensitive data fields are exposed in cleartext within the application's user interfaces.