CVE-2002-1471 in Evolution
Summary
by MITRE
The camel component for Ximian Evolution 1.0.x and earlier does not verify certificates when it establishes a new SSL connection after previously verifying a certificate, which could allow remote attackers to monitor or modify sessions via a man-in-the-middle attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1471 represents a critical security flaw in the camel component of Ximian Evolution version 1.0.x and earlier releases. This issue manifests as a certificate verification bypass mechanism that fundamentally undermines the security of SSL connections within the email client. The vulnerability specifically affects the component responsible for handling secure communication protocols, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship established during initial certificate validation.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when the camel component establishes new SSL connections following an initial certificate verification process. During the initial connection, the system properly validates the server certificate to ensure authenticity and establish a secure channel. However, subsequent connections fail to re-verify the certificate, allowing attackers to potentially intercept or manipulate communications without detection. This represents a classic man-in-the-middle attack vector where the attacker can position themselves between the client and server to monitor or modify transmitted data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of secure communications within the Evolution email client. Attackers exploiting this weakness could gain access to sensitive email communications, personal information, and potentially escalate their access to other systems within the network. The vulnerability affects users who rely on secure email communications, particularly in enterprise environments where confidentiality and data integrity are paramount. Organizations using Ximian Evolution 1.0.x or earlier versions face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their email infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 related to securing communications protocols. The flaw represents a failure in certificate pinning or validation consistency, where the system maintains trust from one connection to the next without proper re-authentication. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Ximian Evolution, implementing additional network monitoring for suspicious SSL traffic patterns, and considering alternative email clients with more robust security implementations. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper certificate management and the need for consistent verification processes throughout the entire session lifecycle rather than relying on initial validation for subsequent communications.