CVE-2018-18365 in Password Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Norton Password Manager may be susceptible to an address spoofing issue. This type of issue may allow an attacker to disguise their origin IP address in order to obfuscate the source of network traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18365 affects Norton Password Manager, a widely used password management solution that helps users store and manage their credentials across various online services. This particular flaw represents a significant security concern as it enables address spoofing, a technique that allows malicious actors to manipulate network traffic headers to conceal their true IP addresses. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of network source addresses within the password manager's communication protocols, creating an opening for attackers to forge their location and mask their actual network origins.
Address spoofing in this context specifically targets the authentication and communication mechanisms that Norton Password Manager employs when interacting with its servers and user devices. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the source IP address information in network packets, effectively making it appear as though malicious traffic is originating from legitimate sources rather than the attacker's actual location. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, as it enables unauthorized manipulation of network communication paths that should remain protected and authenticated. The attack vector leverages fundamental network protocol behaviors where source address information can be manipulated without proper verification mechanisms in place.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple traffic obfuscation, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks including man-in-the-middle operations, credential theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Attackers can exploit this weakness to bypass security controls that rely on IP address validation, potentially gaining access to password databases, intercepting authentication tokens, or conducting session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on Norton Password Manager for critical account protection, as it undermines the trust model that password managers establish with their users. From an adversarial perspective, this weakness aligns with tactics described in the attack pattern catalog under techniques involving network spoofing and source address manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18365 should focus on implementing robust source address validation mechanisms within the password manager's network communication stack. Organizations should consider deploying network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous traffic patterns and address spoofing attempts, while also ensuring that all network communications utilize secure authentication protocols such as mutual TLS verification. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper cryptographic measures and source verification in client-server communications, particularly for applications handling sensitive user credentials. Security practitioners should also consider network segmentation and intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious source address changes or unauthorized network access attempts. Regular security assessments and network traffic analysis should be conducted to identify potential exploitation of this vulnerability and ensure that proper network hygiene practices are maintained.