CVE-2020-10375 in Smarty
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2021
An issue was discovered in New Media Smarty before 9.10. Passwords are stored in the database in an obfuscated format that can be easily reversed. The file data.mdb contains these obfuscated passwords in the second column. NOTE: this is unrelated to the popular Smarty template engine product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2021
This vulnerability resides in the New Media Smarty content management system prior to version 9.10 where password security mechanisms fail critically due to improper cryptographic implementation. The flaw manifests in how the system handles password storage within its database structure, specifically in the data.mdb file where credentials are persisted in an obfuscated format rather than properly hashed. This represents a fundamental breakdown in security practices as the obfuscation method employed can be easily reversed, effectively rendering the password protection mechanism useless. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user authentication data, creating a significant risk for systems utilizing this software version.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the use of reversible obfuscation instead of cryptographic hashing for password storage, which violates established security best practices and aligns with CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) and CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength). The specific weakness lies in the database structure where passwords are stored in the second column of the data.mdb file, making the vulnerability exploitable through simple database examination techniques. This approach fundamentally contradicts the principle of one-way cryptographic functions that should be employed for password storage, as outlined in NIST SP 800-63B and OWASP authentication guidelines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially escalate privileges within the affected system. The ease of reversing the obfuscation means that even basic database access can lead to complete compromise of user authentication data, facilitating account takeover attacks and persistent access to sensitive information. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable software version is deployed, affecting all users whose credentials were stored in the affected database structure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability is not limited to administrative accounts but affects all user credentials stored in the system.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate upgrade to New Media Smarty version 9.10 or later, which addresses the password storage implementation flaw. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive database audits to identify and remediate any existing compromised credentials, implementing proper password hashing mechanisms with appropriate salt values. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within networks where this software is deployed, as compromised credentials could enable further attacks. The remediation process should include database re-encryption of existing password data and implementation of proper access controls around database files to prevent unauthorized examination of the obfuscated data. Additionally, organizations should review their incident response procedures to ensure proper handling of credential compromise scenarios and consider implementing monitoring for unauthorized database access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.