CVE-2009-3477 in BlackBerry Device Software
Summary
by MITRE
The Blackberry Browser in RIM BlackBerry Device Software 4.5.0 before 4.5.0.173, 4.6.0 before 4.6.0.303, 4.6.1 before 4.6.1.309, 4.7.0 before 4.7.0.179, and 4.7.1 before 4.7.1.57 does not properly handle "hidden" characters including a \0 character in a domain name in the subject s Common Name (CN) field of an X.509 certificate, which allows remote man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof arbitrary SSL servers via a crafted certificate issued by a legitimate Certification Authority, a related issue to CVE-2009-2408.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3477 represents a critical security flaw in the BlackBerry Browser component of RIM BlackBerry Device Software versions prior to specific patch releases. This issue specifically targets the SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism within the mobile browser, creating a pathway for sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise secure communications on mobile devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during certificate processing, particularly when handling domain names embedded within X.509 certificate subject Common Name fields.
The technical root cause involves the improper handling of "hidden" or non-printable characters, specifically the null character , within domain name strings contained in certificate subject fields. When a certificate contains a domain name with such hidden characters, the BlackBerry Browser fails to properly validate the certificate against the expected domain, allowing malicious actors to craft certificates that appear legitimate while actually targeting different domains. This flaw operates at the certificate validation layer, where the browser should be performing strict domain name matching but instead accepts malformed domain specifications that include hidden characters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to conduct successful man-in-the-middle attacks against BlackBerry devices. An attacker with access to a legitimate Certification Authority certificate can create a malicious certificate that includes the null character within the domain name, making it appear valid to the BlackBerry browser while actually allowing the attacker to intercept and manipulate encrypted communications. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for securing communications channels through certificate manipulation.
The vulnerability affects multiple versions of BlackBerry Device Software including 4.5.0 through 4.5.0.173, 4.6.0 through 4.6.0.302, 4.6.1 through 4.6.1.308, 4.7.0 through 4.7.0.178, and 4.7.1 through 4.7.1.56, indicating a widespread issue across the BlackBerry 4.x software series. This affects a significant portion of BlackBerry users who rely on secure SSL connections for email, web browsing, and enterprise communications. The issue is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where BlackBerry devices are commonly used for secure business communications and sensitive data transfer.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected BlackBerry Device Software versions to the specified secure releases. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies to ensure all BlackBerry devices are updated with the latest security patches. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious certificate activity and implement additional security layers such as certificate pinning where possible. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input sanitization in security-critical applications and demonstrates the necessity of robust certificate validation mechanisms that can properly handle all character sets and encoding variations in domain names. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of thorough testing and validation of security mechanisms, particularly those involved in cryptographic certificate handling and domain validation processes.