CVE-2008-4292 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera before 9.52 does not check the CRL override upon encountering a certificate that lacks a CRL, which has unknown impact and attack vectors. NOTE: it is not clear whether this is a vulnerability, but the vendor included it in a security section of the advisory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4292 pertains to Opera web browser versions prior to 9.52 and relates to Certificate Revocation List handling within the SSL/TLS certificate validation process. This issue specifically addresses the browser's behavior when encountering certificates that do not contain Certificate Revocation List information, creating a potential security gap in certificate validation mechanisms. The vulnerability exists within the certificate validation logic where Opera fails to properly enforce CRL overrides when certificates lack explicit CRL references, potentially allowing for the acceptance of revoked certificates that should be rejected based on standard security practices.
The technical flaw manifests in the certificate validation routine where Opera's implementation does not adequately enforce certificate revocation checking when CRL information is missing from certificates. This represents a deviation from standard certificate validation procedures that should ensure all certificates undergo proper revocation checking regardless of whether explicit CRL references are present. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of certificate properties and lacks proper enforcement of certificate revocation checking mechanisms, creating a potential attack surface where malicious certificates could be accepted without proper revocation verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability remains uncertain due to the lack of clear attack vectors and specific exploitation details provided in the original advisory. However, this weakness could potentially allow attackers to exploit certificate validation gaps by presenting certificates that lack proper CRL information while still being accepted by the vulnerable browser. The unknown impact suggests that the vulnerability might enable various attack scenarios including man-in-the-middle attacks, certificate forgery, or other security bypass techniques that could compromise the integrity of secure communications established through the affected browser.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and relates to the broader category of certificate trust management issues. The problem also connects to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and defense evasion, as compromised certificates could be used to bypass security controls or establish unauthorized trust relationships. The vendor's inclusion of this issue in the security advisory indicates recognition of potential security implications, even if specific exploitation methods remain unclear.
The recommended mitigation approach involves updating to Opera version 9.52 or later, which presumably contains corrected certificate validation logic. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring of certificate validation processes and consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate. Security teams should review their certificate management policies to ensure proper CRL handling and consider implementing certificate validation checks beyond what is provided by default browser implementations. Regular security assessments of browser configurations and certificate validation processes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar validation gaps that could exist in other components of the security infrastructure.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive certificate validation procedures and highlights how seemingly minor implementation gaps in security-critical components can potentially create exploitable conditions. The lack of clear attack vectors in the original advisory underscores the need for thorough security analysis and testing of certificate validation mechanisms, particularly in web browsers where trust relationships are fundamental to secure communications. Organizations should treat this as a reminder of the critical importance of proper certificate validation and the potential consequences of incomplete implementation of security controls.