CVE-2013-1799 in GNOME
Summary
by MITRE
Gnome Online Accounts (GOA) 3.6.x before 3.6.3 and 3.7.x before 3.7.91, does not properly validate SSL certificates when creating accounts for providers who use the libsoup library, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to obtain sensitive information such as credentials by sniffing the network. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2013-0240.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1799 affects Gnome Online Accounts version 3.6.x prior to 3.6.3 and 3.7.x prior to 3.7.91, representing a critical security flaw in the authentication and account provisioning mechanisms of the GNOME desktop environment. This issue specifically impacts the handling of SSL certificates when establishing connections to online service providers that utilize the libsoup library for network communication. The vulnerability stems from an incomplete remediation of a previously identified issue, CVE-2013-0240, which demonstrates the complexity and persistence of SSL certificate validation problems in desktop applications.
The technical flaw in GOA lies in its insufficient SSL certificate validation process during the account creation workflow. When users attempt to add accounts for various online services such as Google, Facebook, or other providers that rely on libsoup for network operations, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and integrity of SSL certificates presented by these services. This weakness creates a window of opportunity for attackers positioned within the network traffic path to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting and manipulating the communication between the client application and the service provider's servers. The incomplete fix for CVE-2013-0240 suggests that developers may have addressed certain aspects of SSL validation while leaving critical validation checks ineffective, particularly when dealing with the specific implementation patterns used by libsoup.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of users who rely on GNOME desktop environments for accessing online services. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture authentication tokens, passwords, and other sensitive information transmitted during the account setup process. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizations that deploy GNOME desktop environments, as compromised credentials can lead to unauthorized access to corporate email systems, cloud storage services, and other business-critical online resources. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where desktop applications may be used to access sensitive corporate data, making the vulnerability a significant concern for information security teams.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions of Gnome Online Accounts, specifically versions 3.6.3 and 3.7.91 or later, to address the incomplete SSL certificate validation. Organizations should also consider network-level security measures such as implementing strict firewall rules and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a classic example of how incomplete security fixes can leave systems vulnerable to attack. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566, representing social engineering through man-in-the-middle attacks, and T1071, covering application layer protocols, particularly when considering the network communication aspects of the flaw. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their desktop environments to identify similar incomplete fixes that may exist in other applications relying on SSL/TLS certificate validation.