CVE-2018-5552 in QuicDoc
Summary
by MITRE
Versions of DocuTrac QuicDoc and Office Therapy that ship with DTISQLInstaller.exe version 1.6.4.0 and prior contains a hard-coded cryptographic salt, "S@l+&pepper".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5552 affects DocuTrac QuicDoc and Office Therapy software versions that include DTISQLInstaller.exe version 1.6.4.0 or earlier. This issue represents a critical weakness in the cryptographic implementation of these document management applications. The flaw manifests through the inclusion of a hard-coded cryptographic salt value "S@l+&pepper" within the software installation package, which directly violates fundamental security principles for cryptographic operations. The presence of such a static salt value fundamentally undermines the security guarantees that cryptographic systems are designed to provide.
The technical flaw stems from the improper implementation of cryptographic functions where developers embedded a fixed salt value directly into the executable code rather than generating dynamic salts for each cryptographic operation. This hard-coded salt creates predictable cryptographic outputs that can be easily reversed or exploited by attackers. The salt value serves as a randomization factor in cryptographic algorithms, particularly in password hashing and encryption schemes, and its predictability significantly weakens the overall security posture of the affected systems. This specific implementation error aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms and improper implementation of cryptographic functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cryptographic weakness to encompass broader security implications for organizations using these applications. Attackers who gain access to the software can leverage the hard-coded salt to perform more effective password cracking attempts, potentially compromising user credentials and sensitive data stored within the document management systems. The vulnerability affects not only individual user accounts but also the integrity of the entire document storage infrastructure, as the predictable salt makes it significantly easier to reverse-engineer hashed passwords and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This weakness can be exploited as part of a broader attack chain in accordance with ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for credential access.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of DocuTrac QuicDoc and Office Therapy should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the latest available versions of the software that contain properly implemented cryptographic functions without hard-coded salts. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all installations of the affected software and ensure proper patching procedures are followed. Additionally, organizations should review their cryptographic implementations across all systems to identify similar hard-coded values and implement proper key management practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following established security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-131A for cryptographic standards and proper implementation practices that prevent the introduction of predictable elements into cryptographic operations.