CVE-2018-7534 in Stealth Solution
Summary
by MITRE
In Stealth Authorization Server before 3.3.017.0 in Unisys Stealth Solution, an encryption key may be left in memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7534 affects the Stealth Authorization Server component within Unisys Stealth Solution, specifically versions prior to 3.3.017.0. This issue represents a critical memory exposure flaw that undermines the security posture of the encryption infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where sensitive cryptographic keys remain accessible in system memory even after their intended use has concluded. This behavior creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors with access to the system's memory space.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to properly clear or overwrite encryption keys from memory locations after their cryptographic operations have been completed. This memory persistence allows unauthorized processes or individuals with appropriate privileges to potentially extract these keys through memory inspection techniques. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses in the handling of sensitive data in memory, and specifically connects to CWE-312, concerning the exposure of sensitive information through improper memory management. The improper handling of cryptographic keys in memory creates a pathway for attackers to bypass the encryption protections that the Stealth Solution is designed to provide.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally compromises the cryptographic integrity of the system. When encryption keys remain in memory, they become potential targets for extraction through various memory scraping techniques or by leveraging other system vulnerabilities that allow memory access. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where the Stealth Authorization Server operates in high-security contexts, as the exposure of encryption keys would effectively nullify the encryption protections for all data processed through the system. The risk is amplified in multi-tenant or shared computing environments where memory isolation may be insufficient. This weakness enables adversaries to potentially decrypt sensitive information that was previously protected by the Stealth Solution's encryption mechanisms, creating a significant breach in the security model that the system was designed to maintain.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7534 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch version 3.3.017.0 or later, which addresses the memory handling issue through proper key clearing mechanisms. Organizations should also implement memory protection techniques such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to reduce the effectiveness of memory scraping attacks. Regular security assessments should include memory inspection procedures to detect potential key exposure, and system monitoring should be enhanced to identify unusual memory access patterns. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive key rotation procedures to ensure that any potentially compromised keys are replaced. Additionally, system administrators should review and harden memory management configurations to prevent similar issues in other components of the security infrastructure, aligning with the security principles outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and supporting the ATT&CK technique T1003.001 for OS credential dumping and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter to prevent exploitation of memory-based vulnerabilities.