Openwall crypt_blowfish insecure salt generation weak password hashes

cryptblowfish-salt-weak-password-hashes (24590) The risk level is classified as LowLow Risk

Description:

crypt_blowfish from Openwall create salts for extended-DES-based and MD5-based password hashes insecurely. An attacker could try candidate passwords against a stolen password file (obtained from a different vulnerability) at a slightly higher rate.

Through private correspondence, the vendor states this vulnerability is neither local nor remote, as this vulnerability can only be exploited in combination with another vulnerability or exposure.

*CVSS:

Base Score: 2.8
  Access Vector: Remote
  Access Complexity: High
  Authentication: Not Required
  Confidentiality Impact: Partial
  Integrity Impact: None
  Availability Impact: None
 
Temporal Score: 2.1
  Exploitability: Unproven
  Remediation Level: Official-Fix
  Report Confidence: Confirmed

Consequences:

Other

Remedy:

Upgrade to the latest version of crypt_blowfish (1.0 or later), available from the crypt_blowfish Web site. See References.

For Red Hat Linux (Postgresql):
Refer to RHSA-2006:0526-8 for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information. See References.

References:

  • crypt_blowfish Web site: Modern password hashing for your software and your servers.
  • ASA-2006-113: postgresql security update (RHSA-2006-0526)
  • CVE-2006-0591: The crypt_gensalt functions for BSDI-style extended DES-based and FreeBSD-sytle MD5-based password hashes in crypt_blowfish 0.4.7 and earlier do not evenly and randomly distribute salts, which makes it easier for attackers to guess passwords from a stolen password file due to the increased number of collisions.
  • RHSA-2006-0526: postgresql security update
  • SA18772: Openwall crypt_blowfish Salt Generation Weakness
  • SA20653: Avaya Products PostgreSQL Multiple Vulnerabilities
  • VUPEN/ADV-2006-0477: Openwall crypt_blowfish Password Hash Generation Security Weakness

Platforms Affected:

  • Openwall crypt_blowfish 0.4.7 and prior
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 Desktop
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 WS
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 ES
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 3 AS
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 4 Desktop
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 4 WS
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 4 ES
  • RedHat Enterprise Linux 4 AS

Reported:

Feb 08, 2006

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For corrections or additions please email xforce@iss.net

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The information within this database may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. In no event shall IBM be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.

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