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In late 2022, a troubling vulnerability was disclosed in the widely used QMS Automotive software, tracked as CVE-2022-43958. This flaw affects all versions of the software and directly puts user security at risk by storing usernames and passwords in plaintext in the database. Let’s break down what this means, why it’s dangerous, and how attackers could exploit it.

What Is QMS Automotive?

QMS Automotive is a quality management system (QMS) commonly used by automotive companies for process control, compliance, and audit management. Because it often sits at the heart of sensitive business operations, data security in this software is critical.

What’s the Issue?

When you create or update a user account in QMS Automotive, the software simply saves your password as plain, readable text in its database. It doesn’t hash or encrypt the passwords, which is a fundamental failure in modern security practices.

For example, a typical row in the users table might look like this

+----+-------------+----------+
| id | username    | password |
+----+-------------+----------+
|  1 | johndoe     | MyPa$$wrd|
+----+-------------+----------+

Anyone who can access the database (regular user, admin, or attacker) can see all passwords in their original, unchanged form.

An attacker gains access to the server (maybe via a misconfiguration or stolen credentials).

2. The attacker connects to the QMS Automotive database using standard tools like mysql, phpMyAdmin, or similar.

The attacker runs a simple SQL query

SELECT username, password FROM users;

The attacker now sees a full list of usernames and plaintext passwords.

5. Using these credentials, the attacker can log in to the application as any user—including administrators. This lets the attacker view confidential data, perform unauthorized actions, or further compromise the system.

Real-World Impact

- Data Breach: Exposed passwords = instant access to company secrets, personal data, or sensitive automotive processes.
- Impersonation: Attackers can act as any user—they might manipulate audits, change compliance records, or sabotage operations.
- Credential Reuse: Many people reuse passwords for different accounts, so this could lead to further compromises.

References & Further Reading

- NIST CVE Detail: CVE-2022-43958 at NIST
- Mitre Database: CVE-2022-43958
- QMS Automotive Vendor Page: QMS Automotive

Patch Immediately: Check with QMS Automotive for updates or patches.

- Hash Passwords: If you manage a similar app, always store passwords using secure hashing (like bcrypt or Argon2).

How passwords SHOULD be stored

# Example: Securing password before saving
import bcrypt

plain_password = 'MyPa$$wrd'
hashed = bcrypt.hashpw(plain_password.encode(), bcrypt.gensalt())
# Store hashed.decode() in the database, NOT the original!

Conclusion

CVE-2022-43958 reminds us: Storing credentials in plaintext is a gift to attackers. If you use QMS Automotive (any version), make sure your data—and your users—are properly protected.

Timeline

Published on: 11/08/2022 11:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/09/2022 17:19:00 UTC