CVE-2022-33756 in CA Automic Automation
Summary
by MITRE • 06/17/2022
CA Automic Automation 12.2 and 12.3 contain an entropy weakness vulnerability in the Automic AutomationEngine that could allow a remote attacker to potentially access sensitive data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-33756 resides within CA Automic Automation versions 12.2 and 12.3, specifically affecting the Automic AutomationEngine component. This weakness manifests as an entropy deficiency that compromises the cryptographic strength of the system's security mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at a fundamental level within the software's cryptographic implementation, where insufficient randomness or predictability in generated cryptographic keys, tokens, or session identifiers creates exploitable conditions for malicious actors. The affected system components likely include password generation routines, session management protocols, and potentially other cryptographic functions that rely on proper entropy sources for their security effectiveness.
The technical flaw represents a direct violation of cryptographic best practices and can be classified under CWE-330, which addresses insufficient entropy in security-critical functions. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially predict or reproduce cryptographic outputs, thereby gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data within the automation environment. The weakness allows remote adversaries to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of automated processes and associated data, particularly when the system relies on weak random number generation for securing communications, authentication tokens, or encryption keys. This vulnerability directly impacts the system's ability to maintain secure communications and protect sensitive operational data within enterprise automation workflows.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of organizations relying on CA Automic Automation for critical business processes. Remote attackers could potentially manipulate automated workflows, access confidential operational data, and compromise the integrity of automated business processes that depend on the system's security guarantees. The vulnerability affects organizations that depend on automated processes for mission-critical operations, potentially leading to significant business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and financial losses. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can leverage this weakness from external network positions without requiring physical access or prior authentication within the target environment.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of CA Automic Automation, reviewing and strengthening cryptographic implementations, and monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security assessments of all cryptographic functions within the automation environment and implementation of proper entropy sources. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack surface while patches are deployed. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers credentials in files, as compromised cryptographic functions can lead to credential exposure and unauthorized system access. Organizations must also evaluate their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of this entropy weakness, particularly in environments where automated processes handle sensitive data or critical business operations.