CVE-2013-6812 in ONEDC
Summary
by MITRE
The ONEDC app before 1.7 for iOS does not properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6812 affects the ONEDC mobile application for iOS versions prior to 1.7, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from inadequate X.509 certificate verification processes that fail to properly authenticate the identity of SSL servers. The vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security principle of certificate-based authentication that is essential for establishing secure communications between mobile applications and backend services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's failure to perform comprehensive certificate validation checks during SSL handshakes. Specifically, the ONEDC app does not adequately verify certificate chains, validate certificate expiration dates, or ensure proper certificate signatures that would normally be required for secure communication. This inadequate validation allows attackers to generate or obtain certificates that, while technically valid in some respects, do not meet the security requirements for authenticating the actual server. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The flaw represents a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation and certificate trust model, creating opportunities for attackers to intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive surveillance and data theft capabilities for malicious actors. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to sensitive user information including personal data, authentication credentials, and confidential business information that flows through the vulnerable application. The man-in-the-middle attack vector allows for real-time monitoring of communications, enabling attackers to capture login credentials, financial information, and other sensitive data without detection. This vulnerability particularly impacts mobile applications that handle sensitive user data and require secure communications with backend services, making it especially dangerous for applications handling financial transactions, personal health information, or corporate data. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the device, making it particularly concerning for enterprise and consumer applications.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability in affected ONEDC applications. The primary remediation involves updating the application to version 1.7 or later, which includes proper certificate validation mechanisms that address the identified weakness. Security teams should also implement additional network-level protections such as certificate pinning to prevent the use of unauthorized certificates even if the application itself is compromised. The mitigation approach should align with industry best practices outlined in the NIST SP 800-52 standard for certificate management and the MITRE ATT&CK framework's network infiltration techniques. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their mobile applications to identify similar certificate validation weaknesses and implement proper certificate validation libraries that enforce strict certificate chain validation, expiration checking, and signature verification. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual certificate-related activities that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.