CVE-2014-2901 in wolfSSL
Summary
by MITRE
wolfssl before 3.2.0 does not properly issue certificates for a server's hostname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2901 affects wolfSSL versions prior to 3.2.0 and represents a critical certificate validation flaw that undermines the security of TLS/SSL server implementations. This issue specifically pertains to the certificate issuance and validation process where the library fails to properly verify or issue certificates that correctly match a server's hostname, creating a potential avenue for man-in-the-middle attacks and certificate forgery scenarios. The flaw exists in the certificate handling mechanisms that are fundamental to establishing secure communications between clients and servers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper hostname validation within the certificate processing pipeline of wolfSSL. When a server attempts to present a certificate to clients, the library should verify that the certificate's subject name matches the server's actual hostname to prevent certificate spoofing attacks. However, in affected versions, this validation process is flawed, allowing certificates to be issued or accepted even when there is a mismatch between the certificate's hostname and the actual server being accessed. This weakness creates a gap in the certificate chain validation that can be exploited by attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to clients.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2901 extends beyond simple certificate validation failures and represents a significant threat to secure communications infrastructure. Systems utilizing vulnerable wolfSSL versions become susceptible to various attack vectors including SSL stripping attacks, certificate impersonation, and active man-in-the-middle scenarios where attackers can intercept and modify communications without detection. The vulnerability directly impacts the trust model that TLS/SSL protocols rely upon, potentially allowing attackers to establish secure-looking connections while actually communicating with malicious intermediaries. This weakness is particularly dangerous in environments where secure server authentication is critical, such as financial services, healthcare applications, and government communications systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to wolfSSL version 3.2.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly implement hostname validation. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all systems using vulnerable wolfSSL implementations to identify potential attack surfaces and assess the risk of compromise. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual certificate validation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation and relates to ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for securing communications channels through proper certificate validation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as certificate pinning, extended validation certificates, and regular security assessments to strengthen their overall cryptographic security posture. This remediation effort should be part of a broader vulnerability management program that includes regular updates, security testing, and continuous monitoring of cryptographic implementations across all networked systems.