CVE-2012-5802 in Ubercart
Summary
by MITRE
The PayPal module in Ubercart does not verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the subject s Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers via an arbitrary valid certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5802 represents a critical SSL certificate validation flaw within the PayPal module of the Ubercart e-commerce platform. This issue stems from improper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification processes, specifically failing to validate that the server hostname matches the domain name contained in either the Common Name field or the subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate. The absence of this crucial validation step creates a significant security gap that exposes systems to man-in-the-middle attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting any valid SSL certificate, regardless of whether it corresponds to the legitimate server, thereby enabling them to intercept and potentially manipulate sensitive data transmitted between users and the payment processing server.
The technical flaw manifests in the SSL certificate verification logic where the system accepts certificates based solely on their validity rather than their authenticity. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which focuses on improper certificate validation, and specifically addresses the lack of hostname verification in SSL/TLS implementations. The weakness allows attackers to establish fraudulent connections that appear legitimate to the client software, as the system fails to confirm that the certificate presented matches the expected server identity. This issue is particularly dangerous in e-commerce environments where financial transactions occur, as it undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by SSL/TLS encryption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that secure e-commerce transactions depend upon. When users interact with the Ubercart payment module, their sensitive information including payment details, personal identification, and transaction data becomes vulnerable to interception by malicious actors. The vulnerability affects any system utilizing the affected PayPal module within Ubercart, potentially exposing thousands of transactions to compromise. This weakness enables attackers to not only eavesdrop on communications but also to modify transaction data, redirect payments, or inject malicious content into the payment processing flow, creating opportunities for financial fraud and data breaches.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Ubercart that address the SSL certificate validation issue. The recommended approach involves ensuring that all SSL/TLS certificate validation routines properly verify hostname matches against both the Common Name and subjectAltName fields of certificates. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of SSL connection attempts to detect potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework category T1573, this vulnerability represents a technique for establishing covert channels and can be leveraged for data exfiltration and man-in-the-middle attacks. Organizations should also review their certificate management practices and implement proper certificate lifecycle management to prevent similar issues in other components of their infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of thorough security testing and validation of cryptographic implementations, particularly in financial transaction processing systems where trust and security are paramount.