CWE-314: Cleartext Storage in the Registry

What is Cleartext Storage in the Registry?

• Overview: CWE-314 refers to storing sensitive information in cleartext in the registry, which can be easily accessed and exploited by attackers.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by accessing the registry key where the sensitive information is stored.
• Common attack patterns include using registry editor tools or automated scripts to read registry entries, and decoding encoded information if applicable.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include unauthorized access to sensitive information such as passwords or cryptographic keys.
• Potential cascading effects can lead to further exploitation, such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within a network.
• Business impact includes data breaches, loss of customer trust, and potential legal implications.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes include encrypting sensitive data before storing it in the registry.
• Security best practices involve minimizing the storage of sensitive information in the registry and using secure APIs for data access.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include using cryptographic libraries for encryption and employing security scanning tools to detect cleartext storage vulnerabilities.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: Not specified

Vulnerable Code Example

import winreg

def store_password_in_registry(username, password):
    # WARNING: Storing passwords in cleartext in the registry is a security risk!
    # Passwords stored in plaintext can be accessed by unauthorized users or malware.
    with winreg.ConnectRegistry(None, winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER) as hkey:
        with winreg.CreateKey(hkey, r"SOFTWARE\MyApp") as sub_key:
            winreg.SetValueEx(sub_key, "Username", 0, winreg.REG_SZ, username)
            winreg.SetValueEx(sub_key, "Password", 0, winreg.REG_SZ, password)

In this vulnerable code example, sensitive information like a password is stored in cleartext in the Windows registry. This practice exposes sensitive data to any user or application with access to the registry, making it susceptible to unauthorized access and exploitation.

How to fix Cleartext Storage in the Registry?

To fix this vulnerability, avoid storing sensitive data like passwords in cleartext. Instead, use cryptographic methods to encrypt the sensitive information before storing it. This ensures that even if the registry data is accessed by unauthorized users or malicious software, the information remains protected. Use a strong encryption algorithm, such as AES, and securely manage your encryption keys.

Fixed Code Example

import winreg
from cryptography.fernet import Fernet

# Generate a key for encryption (store this securely and not in the source code)
encryption_key = Fernet.generate_key()
cipher = Fernet(encryption_key)

def store_password_in_registry(username, password):
    # Encrypt the password before storing it in the registry
    encrypted_password = cipher.encrypt(password.encode())
    with winreg.ConnectRegistry(None, winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER) as hkey:
        with winreg.CreateKey(hkey, r"SOFTWARE\MyApp") as sub_key:
            winreg.SetValueEx(sub_key, "Username", 0, winreg.REG_SZ, username)
            # Store the encrypted password as a binary value
            winreg.SetValueEx(sub_key, "Password", 0, winreg.REG_BINARY, encrypted_password)

# Note: The encryption key must be securely stored and managed. 
# Avoid hardcoding it in the source code. Consider using a secure vault or environment variables.

In the fixed code example, the password is encrypted using the Fernet symmetric encryption before being stored in the registry. This encryption ensures that the password is not stored in cleartext, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. The encryption key must be managed securely and should not be hard-coded in the source code. Consider using environment variables or a secure key management solution to handle encryption keys.