CVE-2019-3907 in Identicard
Summary
by MITRE
Premisys Identicard version 3.1.190 stores user credentials and other sensitive information with a known weak encryption method (MD5 hash of a salt and password).
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3907 affects Premisys Identicard version 3.1.190 and represents a critical security flaw in how the system handles user authentication data. This weakness stems from the implementation of a known weak encryption method that employs MD5 hashing combined with a salt value to protect user credentials and sensitive information. The system's failure to utilize modern cryptographic standards creates a significant risk for unauthorized access and credential compromise.
The technical flaw lies in the use of MD5 as the primary hashing algorithm for credential storage, which has been widely deprecated due to its inherent vulnerabilities and susceptibility to collision attacks. The MD5 algorithm produces a 128-bit hash value that, while combined with a salt for additional protection, remains fundamentally insecure against modern cryptanalytic techniques. This weakness allows attackers to potentially reverse-engineer passwords through rainbow table attacks, brute force methods, or by exploiting known MD5 collision vulnerabilities. The implementation violates established security best practices and fails to meet contemporary cryptographic requirements for password storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised user credentials can lead to unauthorized system access, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness can gain access to sensitive user information, potentially compromising multiple accounts if users employ the same passwords across different systems. The vulnerability affects the authentication mechanism of the Identicard system, which is designed to manage and verify user identities, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking persistent access to secure environments.
Organizations utilizing Premisys Identicard version 3.1.190 should immediately implement mitigations including immediate upgrade to a patched version that employs strong cryptographic hashing algorithms such as bcrypt, scrypt, or PBKDF2. The system should be configured to use salted hashes with sufficient iteration counts to resist brute force attacks, and all existing credentials should be reset and rehashed using secure methods. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems using weak encryption methods and establish proper cryptographic standards for credential storage. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-327 which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and represents a clear violation of NIST SP 800-63B guidelines for password authentication. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique under T1110 which involves the exploitation of weak encryption or authentication mechanisms to obtain unauthorized access to systems and data.