CVE-2022-1257 in McAfee
Summary
by MITRE • 04/14/2022
Insecure storage of sensitive information vulnerability in MA for Linux, macOS, and Windows prior to 5.7.6 allows a local user to gain access to sensitive information through storage in ma.db. The sensitive information has been moved to encrypted database files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1257 represents a critical insecure storage of sensitive information flaw affecting MA software across multiple operating systems including Linux, macOS, and Windows. This vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 5.7.6 and exposes sensitive data through improper storage mechanisms within the ma.db database file. The flaw constitutes a direct violation of security best practices for handling confidential information and demonstrates inadequate protection measures for data at rest.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly encrypt sensitive data stored in the ma.db file. This database file serves as the primary storage mechanism for confidential information within the MA application, yet prior to version 5.7.6, it maintained data in an unencrypted format. The insecure storage approach creates a persistent exposure where local users with access to the system can directly read and extract sensitive information without requiring additional authentication or exploitation techniques. This represents a classic case of insufficient data protection at rest, where the absence of encryption mechanisms allows unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information including user credentials, configuration details, or other confidential data elements.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1257 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass broader security implications for affected systems. Local users who gain access to the ma.db file can potentially extract confidential information that may include user authentication details, system configuration parameters, or other sensitive data that could facilitate further attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Credentials in Files) which describes methods for accessing credentials stored in files. The impact is particularly severe in environments where local privilege escalation is possible or where multiple users share the same system, as the vulnerability creates a persistent access vector for attackers seeking to obtain confidential information.
The remediation for this vulnerability involves updating to MA version 5.7.6 or later, which implements proper encryption mechanisms for database storage. This update addresses the root cause by transitioning from cleartext storage to encrypted database files, thereby providing the necessary protection for sensitive information at rest. Security administrators should prioritize this patch deployment across all affected systems and conduct thorough testing to ensure the encryption mechanisms function correctly. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect any unauthorized access attempts to database files and consider implementing additional access controls to limit local user privileges where possible. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper data encryption and secure storage practices in protecting sensitive information from local access threats.