CVE-2022-22987 in ADAM-3600
Summary
by MITRE • 02/05/2022
The affected product has a hardcoded private key available inside the project folder, which may allow an attacker to achieve Web Server login and perform further actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22987 represents a critical security flaw where a hardcoded private key exists within the project folder structure of the affected software system. This configuration fundamentally undermines the security architecture by providing unauthorized access vectors that bypass normal authentication mechanisms. The presence of such a key within the source code repository creates an inherent weakness that can be exploited by any attacker who gains access to the project files, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
This vulnerability manifests as a direct violation of security best practices and can be classified under CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials). The hardcoded nature of the private key means that it cannot be rotated or updated without modifying the source code, creating a persistent security risk that remains active throughout the software lifecycle. Attackers can leverage this weakness to authenticate as the web server or application, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive resources and potentially escalating their privileges to perform administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with a persistent backdoor that can be used for reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. When combined with other vulnerabilities or attack vectors, this hardcoded key can serve as a critical enabler for more sophisticated attacks. The attack surface is significantly expanded because the key is typically accessible to all users with read permissions to the project directory, including developers, CI/CD systems, and potentially external parties who might gain access to the source code repository.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-22987 require immediate remediation through the removal of hardcoded credentials from source code and implementation of proper key management practices. Organizations should implement secure credential storage solutions such as hardware security modules, cloud-based key management services, or encrypted configuration files that are separate from the application code. The principle of least privilege must be enforced, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive keys and that key rotation mechanisms are established. Additionally, regular security scanning should be implemented to detect any remaining hardcoded credentials in source code repositories, and automated tools should be deployed to prevent future occurrences through code review processes and security scanning pipelines. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 (Credentials In Files) and represents a critical failure in secure software development practices that requires immediate attention and remediation across all affected systems.