CVE-2014-7274 in getmail
Summary
by MITRE
The IMAP-over-SSL implementation in getmail 4.44.0 does not verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the subject s Common Name (CN) field of the X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof IMAP servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate from a recognized Certification Authority.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7274 represents a critical flaw in the getmail email retrieval utility version 4.44.0 that implements IMAP-over-SSL functionality. This issue stems from improper certificate validation mechanisms within the SSL/TLS implementation, specifically targeting the hostname verification process that should occur during the secure connection establishment phase. The flaw allows malicious actors to execute successful man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting certificates that appear legitimate but do not properly validate the server identity against the expected domain names. This vulnerability directly impacts the security of email communications by undermining the fundamental trust model that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to establish between client and server components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper hostname validation within the X.509 certificate verification process. When getmail establishes an SSL connection to an IMAP server, it should validate that the certificate presented by the server contains a domain name that matches the hostname being connected to. The implementation fails to perform this critical check, allowing attackers to present certificates signed by legitimate Certificate Authorities that contain mismatched domain names in the Common Name field. This flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically within the secure socket layer implementation where certificate validation should occur before establishing trust. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and represents a failure to implement proper hostname verification as mandated by industry security standards.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7274 extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attacks that can compromise entire email communication channels. An attacker positioned in the network path between the getmail client and the target IMAP server can intercept communications and present a forged certificate that appears valid to the client application. This allows for the capture of email credentials, sensitive message content, and potentially access to corporate email accounts containing confidential business information. The vulnerability affects organizations using getmail for automated email retrieval processes, particularly those in environments where email security is paramount such as financial institutions, government agencies, and enterprises handling sensitive data. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust model of legitimate certificate authorities, making the forged certificates appear authentic to the vulnerable client software.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates to patched versions of getmail that properly implement hostname verification. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to getmail versions that address this specific certificate validation flaw, ensuring that all instances of the utility are updated across their infrastructure. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as certificate pinning where possible, and monitoring for unusual certificate validation behaviors. The implementation of proper hostname verification aligns with recommendations from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines for secure communications and follows the ATT&CK framework's methodology for identifying and addressing credential access vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their email infrastructure to identify all systems using vulnerable versions of getmail and ensure complete remediation through software updates and configuration changes that enforce proper SSL certificate validation procedures.