CVE-2022-3217 in VBASE
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2022
When logging in to a VBASE runtime project via Web-Remote, the product uses XOR with a static initial key to obfuscate login messages. An unauthenticated remote attacker with the ability to capture a login session can obtain the login credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2022
This vulnerability resides in the VBASE runtime project's web-remote authentication mechanism where login messages are obfuscated using a simple XOR operation with a static initial key. The flaw represents a fundamental cryptographic weakness that directly violates security best practices for credential protection. The static nature of the XOR key means that any captured login message can be decrypted by an attacker who intercepts the network traffic, effectively undermining the entire authentication process. This vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues and improper use of cryptographic primitives, and demonstrates a clear failure in implementing proper encryption mechanisms for sensitive data transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with unauthenticated access to systems protected by the VBASE runtime environment. An attacker capable of capturing network traffic during login sessions can repeatedly decrypt credentials without requiring additional authentication factors or complex attack vectors. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring is possible, such as public networks or poorly secured internal networks. The attack pattern follows the ATT&CK technique T1075, which involves using legitimate credentials to gain access to systems, but the vulnerability enables attackers to obtain these credentials through traffic interception rather than traditional credential harvesting methods.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the use of XOR encryption, which is fundamentally insecure for protecting sensitive information when the key remains static and is not properly randomized for each session. XOR encryption with a static key creates a deterministic relationship between the plaintext and ciphertext, making it trivial for attackers to reverse-engineer the original credentials. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor adherence to security standards such as NIST SP 800-57, which requires that cryptographic keys be properly generated, managed, and updated to maintain security effectiveness. Additionally, this weakness exposes the system to replay attacks where captured login sequences can be used to authenticate at a later time, further expanding the attack surface.
Effective mitigation strategies must address both the immediate vulnerability and underlying architectural issues. Organizations should immediately implement proper encryption mechanisms using strong, session-specific keys for all credential transmission, ensuring that each login session uses unique cryptographic parameters. The static XOR key should be replaced with industry-standard encryption algorithms such as AES-256 with properly randomized initialization vectors. Network segmentation and traffic encryption through TLS should be enforced to prevent traffic interception at multiple layers of the network stack. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that cryptographic implementations meet current security standards and do not reintroduce similar weaknesses.