CVE-2023-43621 in Croc
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2023
An issue was discovered in Croc through 9.6.5. The shared secret, located on a command line, can be read by local users who list all processes and their arguments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-43621 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Croc file transfer application version 9.6.5 and earlier. This issue stems from improper handling of sensitive command line arguments that contain shared secrets used for authentication purposes. The flaw allows local attackers with process enumeration privileges to extract these secrets by simply listing running processes and examining their command line parameters. This type of vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper credential handling, as sensitive data is exposed through readily accessible system interfaces.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper error handling and insecure data management practices. When Croc applications are launched with shared secrets in their command line arguments, these secrets become visible in the process table through the /proc filesystem or similar process enumeration mechanisms available on unix-like systems. This exposure occurs because command line arguments are typically stored in memory and accessible through standard system interfaces without adequate access controls or obfuscation measures. The flaw demonstrates poor security engineering practices where sensitive information is not properly protected through secure credential handling mechanisms or environment variable management.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-43621 is significant for any system running vulnerable versions of Croc, as local users with minimal privileges can potentially gain unauthorized access to shared secrets used for authentication between file transfer endpoints. This exposure could enable attackers to impersonate legitimate users, access protected resources, or facilitate further attacks within the network environment. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where multiple users share the same machine or where process enumeration is possible through standard administrative tools. Attackers could leverage this information to perform credential reuse attacks or establish persistent access to file transfer services that rely on these shared secrets for authentication.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper credential handling practices and avoiding the exposure of sensitive information through command line arguments. The recommended approach includes modifying the application to use environment variables or secure configuration files with appropriate access controls instead of command line parameters for storing shared secrets. Additionally, system administrators should ensure that process enumeration capabilities are properly restricted and that users have appropriate access controls to prevent unauthorized process inspection. The remediation process should involve updating to the patched version of Croc or implementing temporary workarounds such as restricting process visibility through system hardening measures. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security reviews to identify and address information disclosure risks in command line argument handling. Organizations should implement monitoring for unusual process enumeration activities and establish proper incident response procedures to address potential exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1552, which covers credentials in files and T1059, which addresses command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage process enumeration techniques to extract sensitive information from command line arguments.