CVE-2023-36266 in Password Manager for Desktop
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
An issue was discovered in Keeper Password Manager for Desktop version 16.10.2, and the KeeperFill Browser Extensions version 16.5.4, allows local attackers to gain sensitive information via plaintext password storage in memory after the user is already logged in, and may persist after logout.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-36266 represents a critical security flaw in Keeper Password Manager desktop and browser extension components, specifically affecting versions 16.10.2 and 16.5.4 respectively. This issue stems from improper handling of sensitive credentials within the application's memory management system, creating a persistent security risk that extends beyond traditional session boundaries. The flaw allows local attackers with access to the system to potentially extract stored passwords from memory, fundamentally undermining the core security promise of password management solutions. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user credentials, as sensitive information remains accessible even after users have logged out of the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves plaintext password storage within application memory structures, violating fundamental security principles for credential handling. When users authenticate to Keeper Password Manager, their credentials are stored in an unencrypted format within the application's memory space, creating a persistent exposure window that extends well beyond the typical session lifecycle. The memory persistence aspect means that even after logout operations, password data remains accessible to malicious actors who can leverage memory dump techniques or direct memory access methods to extract this information. This behavior represents a violation of secure coding practices and demonstrates inadequate memory sanitization procedures, as the application fails to properly clear sensitive data from memory upon user logout or application termination.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it creates persistent access vectors for attackers who may already have local system access. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through various means including direct memory access, process inspection, or memory dumping tools that can extract the plaintext credentials stored in the application's memory space. The persistence of these credentials after logout creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can maintain access to user accounts even after legitimate users have ended their sessions, effectively bypassing standard authentication mechanisms and session management controls. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations where local system compromise is possible, as it transforms a single point of local access into a persistent credential extraction capability that can be leveraged across multiple user accounts.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure credential handling practices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique through memory scraping, where adversaries leverage system-level access to extract stored credentials from memory. Organizations implementing Keeper Password Manager should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat modeling exercises, particularly in environments where local privilege escalation or system compromise is a potential risk. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper memory management and credential sanitization techniques, as recommended by industry standards such as NIST SP 800-57 and OWASP Top Ten security practices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-36266 should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to address the underlying memory handling flaws. Organizations should implement additional monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns and consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify potential credential scraping activities. The recommended approach includes disabling or removing the vulnerable Keeper extensions and desktop applications until patched versions are deployed, while also implementing strict access controls to limit local system access where possible. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications or systems that may be storing sensitive data in plaintext within memory, as this represents a broader class of vulnerabilities that require systematic remediation across the entire security infrastructure.