CVE-2013-2037 in httplib2
Summary
by MITRE
httplib2 0.7.2, 0.8, and earlier, after an initial connection is made, 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 • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2037 represents a critical SSL/TLS certificate validation flaw within the httplib2 library version 0.7.2 and earlier releases. This issue specifically affects the library's handling of SSL connections after the initial handshake has been established, creating a security gap that enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability stems from the library's failure to properly validate server certificates against the expected hostname, which is a fundamental security requirement in secure communications protocols.
The technical flaw resides in the certificate verification process where httplib2 does not perform proper hostname validation against the X.509 certificate's subject common name or subject alternative name fields. This omission allows attackers to present any valid certificate, regardless of whether it matches the intended server hostname. The vulnerability specifically impacts the SSL/TLS verification mechanism that should ensure the certificate presented by the server corresponds to the domain name being accessed. This failure creates a condition where an attacker can intercept communications between clients and servers by presenting a legitimate certificate for a different domain, effectively bypassing the security measures designed to prevent such attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant and far-reaching across various applications that rely on httplib2 for HTTP communications. Any system utilizing this library for secure connections becomes susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks, potentially allowing attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between clients and servers. The vulnerability affects not only web applications but also any software that uses httplib2 for API communications, data synchronization, or other secure network operations. The risk is particularly severe because the flaw occurs after the initial connection, meaning that even if the first connection appears secure, subsequent communications may be compromised without the user's knowledge.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1573.002, which covers the use of secure shell or remote access protocols with compromised credentials. The attack vector typically involves an attacker positioned between the client and server, capable of intercepting network traffic and presenting a forged certificate that appears valid to the client application. Organizations using affected versions of httplib2 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to patched versions of the library, implementing additional network monitoring, and potentially deploying certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent such attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in maintaining secure communications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party libraries used in production environments.