CVE-2022-1235 in livehelperchat
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2022
Weak secrethash can be brute-forced in GitHub repository livehelperchat/livehelperchat prior to 3.96.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1235 affects the livehelperchat repository management system prior to version 3.96, specifically targeting the secret hash implementation used for authentication and session management. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the application's access control mechanisms. The issue stems from the use of insufficiently random or predictable secret hashes that can be systematically brute-forced by malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to the chat system. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of communications managed through this platform, as unauthorized users could potentially gain administrative privileges or access sensitive conversation data.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the cryptographic strength of the secret hash generation process within the livehelperchat application. When a secret hash is generated, it should utilize cryptographically secure random number generators and sufficient entropy to prevent successful brute-force attacks. However, in versions prior to 3.96, the implementation likely employed weak randomization techniques or predictable patterns that make the hash susceptible to computational attacks. This weakness aligns with CWE-338, which addresses the use of cryptographically weak pseudo-random number generators, and represents a direct violation of security best practices for session management and authentication token generation. The vulnerability creates a path for attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms through systematic guessing or computational brute-force approaches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches within organizations relying on livehelperchat for customer support and communication services. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially intercept and manipulate chat conversations, access private user information, or escalate privileges to administrative levels within the chat system. This creates significant risk for businesses that depend on secure communication channels, particularly those in regulated industries where data protection and privacy compliance are mandatory. The vulnerability also enables potential lateral movement within networks if the chat system is integrated with other internal applications, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to expand their access within organizational infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1235 require immediate action to upgrade the livehelperchat system to version 3.96 or later, which contains the necessary cryptographic improvements to address the weak secret hash implementation. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as rate limiting on authentication attempts, enhanced monitoring for suspicious login patterns, and network segmentation to limit potential damage from successful exploitation. The fix typically involves implementing proper cryptographic random number generation with sufficient entropy, ensuring that secret hashes are generated using industry-standard secure algorithms and key lengths. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of related systems and review access controls to minimize the impact of any potential compromise. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the dangers of relying on outdated cryptographic implementations in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1110 for Brute Force and T1566 for Phishing as attackers may leverage this weakness as part of broader exploitation campaigns.