CVE-2007-3564 in libcURL
Summary
by MITRE
libcurl 7.14.0 through 7.16.3, when built with GnuTLS support, does not check SSL/TLS certificate expiration or activation dates, which allows remote attackers to bypass certain access restrictions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3564 affects libcurl versions 7.14.0 through 7.16.3 when configured with GnuTLS support, representing a critical flaw in SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. This issue stems from the library's failure to properly validate certificate expiration and activation dates, creating a significant security gap that remote attackers can exploit to bypass access controls and potentially gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems that rely on libcurl for secure communications and certificate-based authentication, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where secure connections are paramount.
The technical flaw manifests in the certificate validation process where libcurl with GnuTLS support neglects to verify the validity period of SSL/TLS certificates. This omission means that certificates that have expired or are not yet active continue to be accepted as valid for establishing secure connections. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through compromised certificates. When an attacker presents an expired or improperly timed certificate, the vulnerable libcurl implementation accepts it without proper validation, effectively neutralizing the security benefits of certificate-based authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple certificate validation failure, creating potential pathways for man-in-the-middle attacks and unauthorized access to protected resources. Systems using affected libcurl versions may continue to accept connections from compromised or malicious entities that present certificates outside their valid time windows. This flaw particularly affects applications that depend on libcurl for secure HTTP operations, web services, and automated systems requiring certificate-based authentication. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security principle of time-based certificate validation, allowing attackers to exploit temporal certificate inconsistencies to bypass access restrictions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3564 primarily involve upgrading to libcurl versions 7.16.4 or later where the certificate validation has been properly implemented. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as certificate monitoring systems, regular certificate lifecycle management, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of certificate validation failures. The fix addresses the underlying CWE-295 vulnerability by ensuring proper certificate validation including expiration and activation date checks. Security teams should also consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms and additional monitoring for unusual certificate behavior. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security libraries and the potential consequences of inadequate certificate validation in secure communication frameworks.