CVE-2014-2845 in Cyberduck
Summary
by MITRE
Cyberduck before 4.4.4 on Windows does not properly validate X.509 certificate chains, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof FTP-SSL servers via a certificate issued by an arbitrary root Certification Authority.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2845 affects Cyberduck version 4.4.3 and earlier on Windows platforms, representing a critical flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from insufficient validation of X.509 certificate chains during secure file transfer operations, specifically impacting FTP-SSL connections where the client establishes encrypted communication with remote servers. The vulnerability creates a significant security gap that allows malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting certificates issued by arbitrary root Certification Authorities, effectively bypassing the intended security controls that should prevent unauthorized server authentication.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's certificate chain validation process, where Cyberduck fails to properly verify the complete certificate path from the server certificate back to a trusted root CA. This incomplete validation allows attackers to generate certificates signed by untrusted or self-signed root authorities that the application will accept as legitimate. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Windows implementation of Cyberduck, where the certificate validation logic does not enforce proper chain of trust verification, enabling attackers to create convincing fraudulent certificates that appear to be from legitimate FTP-SSL servers. This flaw directly violates the fundamental security principle of certificate validation that should ensure the authenticity and integrity of secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it fundamentally undermines the security of file transfers conducted through FTP-SSL connections. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept, modify, or redirect data transfers between clients and servers, potentially accessing sensitive information, corrupting files, or establishing persistent access points within networks. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cyberduck for secure file transfers, particularly those handling confidential data, as it creates an attack surface that allows adversaries to impersonate legitimate servers without detection. This weakness is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where automated file transfers or backup operations might be conducted using vulnerable versions of the software.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Cyberduck version 4.4.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the certificate validation issues. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle activity and consider deploying additional security controls such as certificate pinning for critical connections. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a clear violation of the MITM attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of credential access through network sniffing and certificate manipulation. Security teams should also review their certificate management policies and ensure that only trusted root certificates are authorized for use in secure communications.