CVE-2014-7189 in Google
Summary
by MITRE
crpyto/tls in Go 1.1 before 1.3.2, when SessionTicketsDisabled is enabled, allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof clients via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7189 affects the Go programming language's crypto/tls implementation in versions prior to 1.3.2. This issue specifically manifests when the SessionTicketsDisabled configuration option is enabled, creating a security weakness that can be exploited by man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof client connections. The vulnerability represents a significant concern for applications relying on Go's TLS implementation for secure communications, as it undermines the fundamental security guarantees expected from Transport Layer Security protocols.
The technical flaw stems from how Go's TLS implementation handles session tickets when they are explicitly disabled. Session tickets are typically used to enable session resumption without requiring full handshakes, but when disabled, the system should maintain proper security boundaries. However, in affected versions, the implementation fails to properly validate or handle certain TLS handshake sequences, allowing attackers to manipulate the connection establishment process. This creates a scenario where an attacker positioned between client and server can intercept and modify TLS handshake messages, potentially leading to successful impersonation attacks. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple attack pathways within the TLS handshake process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple connection spoofing, as it can compromise the integrity and authenticity of TLS communications in Go applications. When attackers successfully exploit this weakness, they can establish seemingly legitimate connections with clients while actually communicating with servers on behalf of the client, effectively breaking the trust model that TLS is designed to protect. This vulnerability affects applications that rely on Go's standard library for secure communications, potentially exposing sensitive data transfers to interception and manipulation. The impact is particularly severe because it affects the core TLS implementation rather than just specific application code, making it a systemic risk across all affected Go applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7189 primarily involve upgrading to Go version 1.3.2 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved TLS handshake validation and session ticket handling. Organizations should also review their application configurations to ensure that SessionTicketsDisabled is properly implemented and that additional security measures are in place. The fix aligns with security best practices outlined in the CWE database under category 310, which covers cryptographic weaknesses, and represents a remediation consistent with ATT&CK technique T1573.001 for secure communications. Additionally, system administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unusual TLS handshake patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and consider implementing certificate pinning as an additional defense mechanism to further protect against such man-in-the-middle attacks.