CVE-2013-7201 in App
Summary
by MITRE
WebHybridClient.java in PayPal 5.3 and earlier for Android ignores SSL errors, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-7201 represents a critical security flaw in PayPal's mobile payment application for android platforms. This issue specifically affects versions 5.3 and earlier of the PayPal mobile client, where the WebHybridClient.java component demonstrates a dangerous misconfiguration in its secure communication handling. The core problem lies in the application's intentional disregard of SSL certificate validation errors, creating a fundamental weakness in the transport layer security implementation that exposes users to significant cryptographic risks.
The technical flaw manifests through the application's failure to properly validate SSL certificates during secure communication sessions. When SSL errors occur during the connection establishment process, the WebHybridClient.java component is designed to ignore these warnings rather than terminate the connection or alert the user. This behavior violates established security protocols and creates an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to perform man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability essentially disables the certificate pinning mechanism that should verify the authenticity of the server's identity, allowing attackers to present fake certificates that the application will accept without question.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive server spoofing capabilities for attackers. An attacker positioned between the mobile device and PayPal's servers can successfully impersonate the legitimate payment service, potentially capturing sensitive user credentials, transaction details, and financial information. This represents a severe degradation of the application's security posture and violates fundamental principles of secure communication as outlined in industry standards such as CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation. The vulnerability directly enables credential theft and financial fraud, making it particularly dangerous for mobile payment applications where users trust the application to handle sensitive financial transactions.
The implications of this vulnerability align with several tactics and techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and man-in-the-middle attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to user accounts and financial data, potentially enabling large-scale fraud operations. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of PayPal's mobile application, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit a large user base. Organizations should implement comprehensive security measures including certificate pinning enforcement, regular security audits, and immediate patch management to address this vulnerability, while also considering the broader implications for mobile application security and the importance of maintaining proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper secure communication implementation in mobile financial applications and serves as a reminder of the severe consequences that can result from inadequate SSL certificate handling. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and highlights the need for robust security testing and validation of cryptographic implementations in mobile environments where sensitive financial data is processed.