CVE-2018-3854 in Quicken Deluxe 2018
Summary
by MITRE
An exploitable information disclosure vulnerability exists in the password protection functionality of Quicken Deluxe 2018 for Mac version 5.2.2. A specially crafted sqlite3 request can cause the removal of the password protection, allowing an attacker to access and modify the data without knowing the password. An attacker needs to have access to the password-protected files to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-3854 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Quicken Deluxe 2018 for Mac version 5.2.2 that fundamentally undermines the application's security model. This weakness resides in the password protection functionality, which serves as the primary defense mechanism for sensitive financial data stored in sqlite3 databases. The vulnerability allows an attacker to manipulate sqlite3 requests in a manner that bypasses the intended authentication process, effectively removing password protection from sensitive files without proper authorization. The flaw specifically exploits the application's handling of database queries and authentication checks, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected financial information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of sqlite3 requests within the password protection subsystem. When the application processes specially crafted database queries, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming requests, allowing malicious input to interfere with the authentication logic. This weakness creates a direct path for attackers to manipulate the database state and remove password protection mechanisms entirely. The vulnerability operates at the database interaction level, where the application's security checks are bypassed through carefully constructed sqlite3 commands that exploit the underlying database management system's behavior. This type of flaw falls under CWE-20, which encompasses improper input validation issues, and represents a classic example of how database-level vulnerabilities can compromise application-level security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass complete compromise of financial data integrity and confidentiality. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains unrestricted access to all password-protected financial records stored within the Quicken application, including transaction histories, account balances, and personal financial information. The ability to modify data without authorization creates additional risks for financial fraud and data manipulation. Since the vulnerability requires physical access to the password-protected files, it represents a local privilege escalation issue that can be particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share a system or where administrative access is compromised. The impact is especially severe given that Quicken is a financial management application that typically contains highly sensitive personal and financial data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate application updates and implementation of proper input validation mechanisms. Users should immediately update to the latest version of Quicken Deluxe where this vulnerability has been patched, as the official fix addresses the underlying database query handling issues. System administrators should implement additional security controls including file access monitoring, database query auditing, and regular security assessments of financial applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper database security practices and input sanitization, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for indicator removal and T1566 for credential access through application exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of security such as database firewalls, query parameterization, and regular penetration testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in other applications. The incident underscores the critical need for secure coding practices in database interaction components and highlights the importance of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms in financial applications.