Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2024-45394 is a high-severity Weak Encoding for Password (CWE-261) vulnerability in Authenticator Authenticator. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Unsecured Credentials (T1552); ranked at the 0.4th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SC-13 (Cryptographic Protection) and IA-5 (Authenticator Management) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-41456
Vulnerability Data
Authenticator is a browser extension that generates two-step verification codes. In versions 7.0.0 and below, encryption keys for user data were stored encrypted at-rest using only AES-256 and the EVP_BytesToKey KDF. Therefore, attackers with a copy of a user's data…
more
are able to brute-force the user's encryption key. Users on version 8.0.0 and above are automatically migrated away from the weak encoding on first login. Users should destroy encrypted backups made with versions prior to 8.0.0.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 24 hardening rules · 9 OS baselines
V11.4.2V14.1.2V14.2.4
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Cryptographic protection mandates approved algorithms and key management that preclude weak encoding schemes for sensitive data such as passwords.
Authenticator management requires secure generation, storage, and distribution of passwords rather than trivial encoding.
SC-12 governs cryptographic key establishment and management, which can enforce sufficient key sizes and thereby reduce inadequate encryption strength.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Proper cryptographic hashing for data-at-rest directly prevents trivial password encoding while the control addresses broader data protection needs.
Strong encryption is required to protect confidentiality of data-in-transit.
Hardened baselines can enforce minimum cryptographic algorithm and key-length settings.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Requires appropriate use of cryptography, indirectly discouraging weak encoding schemes.
Requires secure handling and protection of authentication information, directly addressing weak password encoding.
The explicit call-out of cryptography-related legal constraints (import/export, key escrow, digital-signature validity) reduces the likelihood that an organization will adopt broken or non-compliant cryptographic algorithms that violate those rules.
Access to current specialist guidance and early vulnerability alerts enables timely replacement of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms with stronger alternatives.
Enforces secure coding practices that would reject trivial password encoding.
Mandates secure authentication mechanisms, which precludes trivial encoding of passwords.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
- V-248524 OL 8 must implement NIST FIPS-validated cryptography for the following: To provision digital signatures, to generate cryptographic hashes, and to protect data requiring data-at-rest protections in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, and standards. prevents CWE-327
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
- V-271756 OL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-326
RHEL 8 (1 rule)
- V-230224 All RHEL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-326
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
- V-257879 RHEL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-326
Windows 10 (1 rule)
- V-220937 The system must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
Windows 11 (1 rule)
- V-253461 The system must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
Windows Server 2016 (2 rules)
- V-225053 Windows Server 2016 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
- V-224843 Systems requiring data at rest protections must employ cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure and modification of the information at rest. prevents CWE-326
Windows Server 2019 (1 rule)
- V-205654 Windows Server 2019 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327
Windows Server 2022 (1 rule)
- V-254474 Windows Server 2022 must be configured to prevent the storage of the LAN Manager hash of passwords. prevents CWE-327