CVE-2012-2500 in AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client 3.0 before 3.0.08057 does not verify the certificate name in an X.509 certificate during WebLaunch of IPsec, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers via a crafted certificate, aka Bug ID CSCtz29470.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2500 affects Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client version 3.0 and earlier, specifically before build 3.0.08057. This security flaw resides within the WebLaunch functionality of the IPsec protocol implementation, creating a critical weakness in the client's certificate validation process. The vulnerability stems from the client's failure to properly verify certificate names during the WebLaunch process, which is a critical component of the secure remote access functionality that Cisco AnyConnect provides to enterprise networks.
The technical flaw manifests in the certificate validation mechanism where the AnyConnect client neglects to perform proper hostname verification against the X.509 certificate presented by the server during IPsec WebLaunch operations. This omission allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship by presenting a maliciously crafted certificate that appears legitimate but contains a different hostname than what the client expects. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate name verification process, which is a fundamental security control designed to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks by ensuring that the client connects to the intended server. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation where the system fails to properly validate the certificate's subject name against the expected server name.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to conduct successful man-in-the-middle attacks against users attempting to establish IPsec connections through the AnyConnect client. An attacker positioned between the client and server can intercept and modify network traffic by presenting a forged certificate that appears valid to the client's insufficient validation process. This allows the attacker to decrypt, modify, or redirect communications without detection, potentially gaining access to sensitive corporate data, credentials, or network resources. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the AnyConnect client, undermining the integrity of the secure remote access infrastructure and compromising the confidentiality and authenticity guarantees that organizations rely upon for their remote workforce connectivity.
Organizations using affected versions of Cisco AnyConnect should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to the patched version 3.0.08057 or later, which properly implements certificate name verification during WebLaunch operations. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring to detect suspicious certificate usage patterns and ensure that certificate management policies are enforced across the organization. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves social engineering tactics to manipulate the certificate validation process. Regular security assessments should verify that certificate validation is properly configured and that the client software is maintained at supported versions to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate to further strengthen the certificate validation process beyond the standard verification procedures.