CVE-2009-3552 in Enterprise Virtualization Manager
Summary
by MITRE
In RHEV-M VDC 2.2.0, it was found that the SSL certificate was not verified when using the client-side Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager interface (a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) XAML browser application) to connect to the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager. An attacker on the local network could use this flaw to conduct a man-in-the-middle attack, tricking the user into thinking they are viewing the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager when the content is actually attacker-controlled, or modifying actions a user requested Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager to perform.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3552 represents a critical security flaw in Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Manager VDC 2.2.0 that undermines the fundamental security assurances of secure communication. This issue affects the client-side interface which is implemented as a Windows Presentation Foundation WPF XAML browser application, creating a unique attack surface that combines desktop application security with web-based communication protocols. The flaw specifically targets the SSL certificate verification process that should normally validate the authenticity of the server the client is connecting to, thereby exposing users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise the entire virtualization management infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of SSL certificate validation within the WPF application framework used by RHEV-M. When users connect to the virtualization manager through this client interface, the application fails to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification that are standard requirements for secure TLS connections. This omission creates a scenario where an attacker positioned within the local network can intercept communications between the client and server, presenting a forged SSL certificate that appears legitimate to the untrained user. The attack exploits the trust model inherent in the WPF application architecture, where the client application assumes that any connection to the configured endpoint is legitimate without performing cryptographic verification of the server's identity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely subvert user interactions with the virtualization management system. An attacker can not only monitor all communication between the user and the RHEV-M server but can also actively modify requests that users intend to send to the system. This modification capability allows for unauthorized actions such as creating new virtual machines, modifying existing configurations, accessing restricted resources, or even deleting critical virtual environments. The vulnerability essentially grants attackers the ability to impersonate the legitimate RHEV-M server and manipulate user requests in real-time, creating a persistent threat that can remain undetected while compromising the integrity and availability of the entire virtualized infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and demonstrates the critical importance of proper SSL/TLS implementation in enterprise applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this flaw maps to techniques involving credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks and privilege escalation via compromised management interfaces. The attack vector represents a classic network-based compromise that leverages the trust relationships established within the enterprise network, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no direct compromise of user credentials or system access. Organizations implementing RHEV-M VDC 2.2.0 should immediately implement network-level mitigations such as network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The recommended remediation includes upgrading to a patched version of RHEV-M that properly implements SSL certificate validation, along with implementing additional network security controls to detect and prevent unauthorized certificate interception attempts.