CVE-2026-4408: Aim Password Encryption Vulnerability
CVE-2026-4408 affects AimHubio Aim versions prior to 3.25.27, exposing encrypted local passwords to dictionary attacks due to a hardcoded AES-CBC IV. This vulnerability allows attackers who gain access to local storage to exploit deterministic encryption, making it easier to recover stored credentials.
What Happened and Why It Matters
The application used AES-256-CBC with a hardcoded IV for encrypting passwords stored in local storage. The affected encrypted values are stored under the aim_sk key. The security flaw lies in the deterministic nature of the encryption, allowing attackers to perform dictionary attacks if they can access the local app storage.
For defenders, the issue primarily concerns credential confidentiality. The hardcoded IV means that identical plaintext will always produce the same ciphertext, making it easier for attackers to guess passwords if they obtain access to the local storage.
Affected Versions and Fixed Version
All Aim versions prior to 3.25.27 are considered vulnerable. The fix implemented in version 3.25.27 replaces the hardcoded IV with securely generated random bytes for each encryption operation. If you are using an earlier version, it is crucial to upgrade immediately.
Risk Assessment for Practitioners
With a CVSS score of 5.5 (Medium), this vulnerability should not be overlooked. Organizations should prioritize patching if Aim is used to store passwords tied to sensitive accounts or services. The risk is heightened in environments where local access to applications is possible.
Technical Deep Dive
The root of the problem is the use of AES-256-CBC with a hardcoded IV. This approach compromises the security of stored passwords, as identical plaintext will yield identical ciphertext. The fix in 3.25.27 ensures that a new IV is generated for each encryption operation, significantly enhancing security.
What Security Teams Should Do Next
- Identify all Aim instances earlier than 3.25.27 and schedule an upgrade.
- Determine whether those installations used locally stored credentials under
aim_sk. - Rotate any exposed passwords, API keys, or tokens.
- Review endpoint telemetry for signs of local application data access.
For further information, refer to the following resources: - GitHub Security Advisory - Fix Commit - Release
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How to Detect Exposure and Scope Affected Systems
To assess whether your systems are affected, identify all endpoints with Aim installed and check for versions earlier than 3.25.27. Look for evidence of sensitive values stored under the aim_sk key. Use the following commands to search for the key in application storage files:
For Linux or macOS:
grep -R "\"aim_sk\"" "$HOME" 2>/dev/null
For Windows with PowerShell:
Get-ChildItem -Path $env:USERPROFILE -Recurse -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Select-String -Pattern '"aim_sk"' -SimpleMatch
Mitigation and Patching
The primary mitigation is to upgrade Aim to version 3.25.27 or later. After upgrading, security teams should rotate any passwords or tokens that may have been stored locally on vulnerable systems. If immediate upgrades are not feasible, consider tightening file-system permissions and increasing monitoring on vulnerable endpoints.