CVE-2018-6976 in VMware Content Locker
Summary
by MITRE
The VMware Content Locker for iOS prior to 4.14 contains a data protection vulnerability in the SQLite database. This vulnerability relates to unencrypted filenames and associated metadata in SQLite database for the Content Locker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6976 affects VMware Content Locker for iOS versions prior to 4.14, representing a significant data protection flaw that undermines the security posture of mobile content management systems. This issue specifically targets the SQLite database implementation within the Content Locker application, exposing sensitive information through inadequate encryption practices. The vulnerability manifests in the storage of filenames and associated metadata within the database without proper encryption mechanisms, creating a potential attack surface that could compromise user data confidentiality.
The technical flaw stems from the improper handling of sensitive data within the SQLite database structure, where filenames and metadata are stored in plaintext rather than being encrypted at rest. This weakness directly violates established security principles for mobile application development and data protection, particularly concerning the handling of user-generated content and metadata within enterprise mobile security solutions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-311, which specifically addresses missing encryption of sensitive data, and represents a critical failure in the application's data protection architecture. When analyzing the operational impact, this vulnerability creates an opportunity for adversaries to extract sensitive information from compromised devices, as the database structure exposes filenames and associated metadata without proper cryptographic protection.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data exposure, as it undermines the fundamental security model of the Content Locker application and potentially affects enterprise data governance policies. Mobile security solutions like Content Locker are designed to protect sensitive corporate information, and this vulnerability creates a pathway for unauthorized access to file names and metadata that could reveal organizational structure, content types, and potentially sensitive business information. The attack surface becomes particularly concerning when considering that iOS devices may be lost, stolen, or compromised, as the unencrypted database would remain accessible to threat actors without proper authentication. This vulnerability intersects with ATT&CK technique T1213, which focuses on data from information repositories, and represents a failure in the application's data protection controls that could enable adversaries to extract sensitive information through database access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Content Locker versions to 4.14 or later, which should implement proper encryption of database contents including filenames and metadata. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as device encryption, application-level encryption, and regular security assessments of mobile content management solutions. The remediation process should include comprehensive database encryption implementation that follows industry standards such as FIPS 140-2 or AES-256 encryption requirements. Security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining unencrypted data within the application's storage mechanisms and ensure that all data protection measures are properly implemented and tested. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring procedures to detect potential unauthorized access attempts to the database and implement proper incident response protocols for cases where sensitive information may have been compromised through this vulnerability.