CVE-2012-5804 in CyberSource
Summary
by MITRE
The CyberSource 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 • 03/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5804 resides within the CyberSource module of the Ubercart e-commerce platform, representing a critical SSL certificate validation flaw that undermines the security of online transactions. This weakness specifically affects the module's implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification processes, creating a pathway for sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive financial data. The vulnerability stems from the module's failure to properly validate SSL certificates against the expected server hostname, a fundamental security measure that should prevent attackers from impersonating legitimate services.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's inadequate certificate validation logic where it only checks the certificate's validity period and signature but completely disregards the hostname verification process. According to the x509 certificate standard and security best practices outlined in the Internet Engineering Task Force RFC 2818, proper SSL certificate validation requires verification of the certificate's subject common name field or subject alternative name fields against the actual hostname of the server being connected to. This vulnerability directly violates the principles of secure communication and authentication, as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation." The absence of this crucial verification step allows attackers to present any valid SSL certificate, regardless of whether it matches the target server's domain name.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using the affected Ubercart implementation. Attackers can successfully conduct man-in-the-middle attacks by obtaining any valid SSL certificate from a certificate authority and using it to impersonate the CyberSource payment processing server. This creates a dangerous situation where customers' payment information, including credit card details and personal identification data, becomes vulnerable to interception and theft. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it operates at the SSL/TLS layer, making it transparent to end users who would have no indication that their secure connection has been compromised. This vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1041 for "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" and T1566 for "Phishing" as attackers can leverage this weakness to conduct more sophisticated fraud operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Ubercart module that addresses the certificate validation flaw, implementing additional network-level security controls such as certificate pinning, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of their payment processing infrastructure. The recommended approach follows industry standards including the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST SP 800-57 guidelines for cryptographic key management and certificate validation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous SSL/TLS behavior and establish proper certificate management procedures that include regular audits of SSL certificates used in payment processing environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper SSL certificate validation as emphasized in the TLS protocol specifications and security frameworks that mandate hostname verification to prevent exactly this type of cryptographic attack vector.