CVE-2022-25828 in Watch Active Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2022
Information Exposure vulnerability in Watch Active Plugin prior to version 2.2.07.22012751 allows attacker to access password information of connected WiFiAp in the log
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2022
The CVE-2022-25828 vulnerability represents a critical information exposure flaw within the Watch Active Plugin ecosystem, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.2.07.22012751. This vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's logging infrastructure, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure. The flaw manifests when the system logs connection details of WiFi access points, including sensitive authentication credentials, without proper obfuscation or encryption measures. Such exposure creates a significant security risk for organizations relying on the plugin for network monitoring and management activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize log output containing WiFi network credentials. When the Watch Active Plugin establishes connections to WiFi access points, it generates log entries that inadvertently capture password information in plaintext format. This occurs due to insufficient validation of user-supplied parameters during the logging process, allowing malicious actors to access these records through standard log file inspection methods. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses information exposure through error handling mechanisms, and CWE-312, which covers exposure of sensitive information through partial disclosure. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in data handling and logging procedures that violate fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, creating potential attack vectors for lateral movement and network infiltration. An attacker with access to system logs can extract authentication credentials for connected WiFi networks, enabling them to establish unauthorized connections to protected networks. This exposure compromises the confidentiality of network access credentials and potentially allows for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where the plugin is deployed in enterprise settings, as it may expose credentials for multiple WiFi networks within the organization. According to ATT&CK framework tactic TA0006, this vulnerability enables credential access through log analysis and information gathering techniques, while also supporting privilege escalation through network infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25828 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch version 2.2.07.22012751, which addresses the core logging mechanism issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive log sanitization procedures that automatically redact or encrypt sensitive information before storage, ensuring that authentication credentials are never written in plaintext format to system logs. Network administrators must conduct thorough log review processes to identify and remove any previously exposed credentials, while implementing monitoring solutions that detect anomalous log access patterns. Additional protective measures include restricting log file access permissions to authorized personnel only, implementing centralized logging with proper access controls, and establishing regular security audits of logging configurations. The remediation approach should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls, particularly those related to audit logging and access control, to ensure comprehensive protection against similar information exposure vulnerabilities.