CVE-2010-4832 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Android OS before 2.2 does not display the correct SSL certificate in certain cases, which might allow remote attackers to spoof trusted web sites via a web page containing references to external sources in which (1) the certificate of the last loaded resource is checked, instead of for the main page, or (2) later certificates are not checked when the HTTPS connection is reused.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-4832 represents a critical SSL certificate validation flaw within the Android operating system prior to version 2.2. This issue stems from improper certificate verification mechanisms that can be exploited by malicious actors to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users. The flaw specifically affects how the Android browser handles SSL certificate validation when loading web pages that contain references to external resources, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to manipulate the security assurances typically provided by SSL/TLS connections. The vulnerability operates under CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation, making it a fundamental weakness in the security architecture of the affected Android versions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when Android browsers encounter web pages that load multiple resources from different domains or when HTTPS connections are reused within the same session. In scenario one, the browser incorrectly validates the certificate of the last loaded resource rather than the main page certificate, allowing attackers to present a valid certificate for an external resource while the main page remains unauthenticated. In scenario two, when HTTPS connections are reused, subsequent certificates are not properly validated, enabling attackers to exploit connection reuse patterns to bypass security checks. This behavior violates the fundamental security principle that each certificate in a chain must be independently verified against the expected domain and trust anchors, as defined in industry standards for secure communication protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple certificate confusion, creating a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to impersonate legitimate websites. Attackers can leverage this flaw to present convincing fake web pages that appear to be from trusted sources, potentially leading to credential theft, financial fraud, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently in the background, with users having no indication that their secure connections have been compromised. This weakness can be exploited in various attack scenarios including phishing campaigns, where attackers create malicious websites that appear legitimate due to the certificate validation bypass, and in network monitoring attacks where malicious intermediaries can intercept and modify traffic without detection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4832 require immediate system updates to Android version 2.2 or later, which includes corrected certificate validation logic. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management programs to ensure all Android devices within their networks are updated promptly. Network administrators should consider deploying additional security monitoring tools to detect anomalous certificate behavior and implement certificate pinning mechanisms where possible to prevent certificate substitution attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper certificate validation implementation and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol: dns, highlighting how protocol-level weaknesses can be exploited to undermine security assurances. Additionally, this vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and comprehensive security testing, particularly for cryptographic implementations, as outlined in NIST SP 800-57 guidelines for cryptographic key management.