CVE-2022-28291 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides an overview of CVE-2022-28291, a vulnerability related to insufficiently protected credentials in the Nessus Professional software.

Understanding CVE-2022-28291

In this section, we will delve into the details of the vulnerability and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2022-28291?

CVE-2022-28291 involves an authenticated user with debug privileges being able to retrieve stored Nessus policy credentials in cleartext via process dumping from the 'nessusd' process. This affects all versions of Nessus Essentials and Professional, potentially compromising customer network assets.

The Impact of CVE-2022-28291

The vulnerability allows an attacker to access sensitive credentials stored in Nessus scanners, posing a significant security risk to affected systems and networks.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-28291

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to insufficient protection of credentials within the 'nessusd' process, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Nessus Professional Version 10.1.1 is confirmed to be affected by CVE-2022-28291, highlighting the importance of mitigation and remediation efforts.

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated user with debug privileges can exploit the vulnerability by retrieving stored credentials via process dumping, leading to potential unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-28291, proactive steps need to be taken to mitigate the risks associated with the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of Nessus Professional are advised to update to a patched version, if available, and review and strengthen access control policies to limit the exposure of sensitive credentials.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust credential management practices, regular security assessments, and employee training on secure handling of credentials can enhance the overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates and promptly applying patches provided by the vendor is crucial to safeguard systems and data from potential exploits.