CVE-2014-0626 in RSA BSAFE SSL-J
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) JSAFE and (2) JSSE APIs in EMC RSA BSAFE SSL-J 5.x before 5.1.3 and 6.x before 6.0.2 make it easier for remote attackers to bypass intended cryptographic protection mechanisms by triggering application-data processing during the TLS handshake, a time at which the data is both unencrypted and unauthenticated.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-0626 represents a critical flaw in the cryptographic protection mechanisms of EMC RSA BSAFE SSL-J implementations across versions 5.x before 5.1.3 and 6.x before 6.0.2. This issue specifically affects the JSAFE and JSSE APIs that are integral components of the RSA BSAFE cryptographic library used for secure communications in enterprise applications. The vulnerability stems from a fundamental design flaw in how these APIs handle application data processing during the TLS handshake phase, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the system's cryptographic protections.
The technical flaw manifests when the TLS handshake process occurs, during which application data is processed before the cryptographic protections are fully established. This timing issue allows attackers to inject malicious data that bypasses the intended encryption and authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the period between the initial handshake messages and the establishment of secure communication channels, where data is processed in an unencrypted and unauthenticated state. This creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate the cryptographic handshake process to inject or modify application data without detection, effectively undermining the entire security framework that should protect the communication channel.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to organizations relying on EMC RSA BSAFE SSL-J for secure communications. The ease with which attackers can bypass cryptographic protections means that sensitive data transmitted through affected systems becomes vulnerable to interception, modification, and potential exploitation. The vulnerability affects not just individual applications but entire enterprise communication infrastructures that depend on the BSAFE library for SSL/TLS implementation. This creates a cascading security risk where a single vulnerable component can compromise the security posture of multiple interconnected systems and services.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in the design of security protocols, and represents a specific implementation flaw in the TLS protocol handling within the BSAFE library. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving protocol manipulation and credential exposure, as attackers can effectively bypass the cryptographic protections that should prevent unauthorized access to application data. The vulnerability also relates to T1566, which covers credential harvesting through various network-based attacks, since the compromised communication channels can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations should implement immediate patching strategies to upgrade to versions 5.1.3 or 6.0.2, respectively, while also monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and conducting thorough security assessments of affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches that address the specific handshake timing issue in the JSAFE and JSSE APIs. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in TLS handshake processing that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as deep packet inspection and application-layer monitoring to detect potential data manipulation during the handshake phase. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cryptographic protocol implementation and the critical need for thorough security testing of cryptographic libraries in enterprise environments. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar timing-based cryptographic flaws that could potentially exist in other components of the security infrastructure.