CVE-2014-1266 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
The SSLVerifySignedServerKeyExchange function in libsecurity_ssl/lib/sslKeyExchange.c in the Secure Transport feature in the Data Security component in Apple iOS 6.x before 6.1.6 and 7.x before 7.0.6, Apple TV 6.x before 6.0.2, and Apple OS X 10.9.x before 10.9.2 does not check the signature in a TLS Server Key Exchange message, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers by (1) using an arbitrary private key for the signing step or (2) omitting the signing step.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1266 represents a critical flaw in Apple's Secure Transport implementation that undermines the fundamental security guarantees of SSL/TLS connections. This issue affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS, Apple TV, and OS X, specifically targeting versions that were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments. The vulnerability resides within the SSLVerifySignedServerKeyExchange function which is responsible for validating the cryptographic signatures in TLS handshakes, creating a pathway for sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can completely bypass SSL certificate validation mechanisms.
The technical flaw stems from the function's failure to properly validate signatures in TLS Server Key Exchange messages during the SSL handshake process. This omission allows attackers to manipulate the cryptographic handshake by either substituting an arbitrary private key during the signing process or simply omitting the signature verification entirely. The vulnerability essentially creates a scenario where the SSL/TLS protocol's integrity protection mechanisms become ineffective, enabling attackers to establish seemingly legitimate SSL connections while actually communicating with compromised intermediaries. This flaw directly violates the cryptographic principles that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to enforce, specifically the requirement for authenticated key exchange that prevents unauthorized parties from impersonating legitimate servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple security compromise to potentially enable widespread data interception and manipulation across affected platforms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform successful man-in-the-middle attacks against SSL connections, potentially accessing sensitive data including login credentials, personal information, and corporate communications. The vulnerability affects systems where SSL/TLS is used for secure communications, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where sensitive data flows through SSL-encrypted channels. Organizations relying on Apple devices for secure communications would have been exposed to significant risk, as the flaw could be exploited without detection by standard security monitoring systems.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak or broken cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.001 for "Reversible Encryption" and T1566.001 for "Phishing via Social Engineering" when considering the broader attack chain. Organizations should have immediately implemented mitigations including urgent patch deployment, network monitoring for suspicious SSL traffic patterns, and temporary network segmentation to prevent exploitation. The recommended approach included updating to the patched versions of affected operating systems, implementing additional network security controls such as certificate pinning where possible, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of SSL/TLS implementations. This vulnerability highlighted the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in security libraries and demonstrated how a single missing signature validation step could compromise the entire SSL/TLS security model, serving as a stark reminder of the need for rigorous security testing and code review processes in cryptographic implementations.