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Description

The storage of passwords in a recoverable format makes them subject to password reuse attacks by malicious users. In fact, it should be noted that recoverable encrypted passwords provide no significant benefit over plaintext passwords since they are subject not only to reuse by malicious attackers but also by malicious insiders. If a system administrator can recover a password directly, or use a brute force search on the available information, the administrator can use the password on other accounts.

Modes of Introduction:

– Architecture and Design

 

Likelihood of Exploit: High

 

Related Weaknesses

CWE-522
CWE-259

 

Consequences

Confidentiality, Access Control: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity

User’s passwords may be revealed.

Access Control: Gain Privileges or Assume Identity

Revealed passwords may be reused elsewhere to impersonate the users in question.

 

Potential Mitigations

Phase: Architecture and Design

Description: 

Use strong, non-reversible encryption to protect stored passwords.

CVE References