CVE-2015-2968 in LINE
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2023
LINE@ for Android version 1.0.0 and LINE@ for iOS version 1.0.0 are vulnerable to MITM (man-in-the-middle) attack since the application allows non-SSL/TLS communications. As a result, any API may be invoked from a script injected by a MITM (man-in-the-middle) attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-2968 represents a critical security flaw in LINE@ mobile applications for both android and ios platforms at version 1.0.0. This issue stems from the application's failure to implement proper transport layer security mechanisms, specifically the absence of secure communication protocols such as SSL/TLS. The vulnerability creates a significant attack surface that allows malicious actors to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and its backend services. The flaw is categorized under CWE-319, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of cryptographic protocols. This weakness directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can position themselves between the mobile client and the server, effectively breaking the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to enforce secure communication channels for all API endpoints. Mobile applications typically establish secure connections using SSL/TLS protocols to encrypt data in transit and verify server authenticity. However, in this case, the LINE@ applications appear to permit unencrypted communication channels, making them susceptible to various attack vectors. The lack of proper certificate validation and encryption enforcement allows attackers to perform session hijacking, data interception, and injection attacks. When an attacker successfully executes a man-in-the-middle attack, they can inject malicious scripts into the communication stream, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts, personal information, and application functionality. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects all API calls within the application, not just specific endpoints, creating a comprehensive attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to include complete application compromise and user account takeover. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can manipulate API calls to perform unauthorized actions such as sending messages, accessing user contacts, modifying account settings, or even extracting sensitive user data. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes data compression and encryption for exfiltration, and T1566, which covers credential access through phishing and social engineering. Users of LINE applications at version 1.0.0 face significant risks including identity theft, unauthorized financial transactions, and privacy violations. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but also corporate users who may have access to sensitive business communications through the application. Organizations relying on LINE for business communication face potential compliance violations and data breach consequences under regulations such as gdpr and hipaa.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of secure communication protocols throughout the application. The primary solution involves enforcing mandatory SSL/TLS encryption for all network communications, implementing proper certificate pinning to prevent certificate substitution attacks, and ensuring certificate validation occurs at every connection attempt. Network security controls should include monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate man-in-the-middle activity and implementing secure coding practices that prevent the application from falling back to insecure communication channels. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and intrusion detection systems to identify and block malicious traffic attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough code review to ensure no insecure communication paths remain, regular security testing including penetration testing, and comprehensive user education about the risks of connecting to untrusted networks. Additionally, application developers should implement proper error handling that does not expose sensitive information through insecure communication channels and establish robust logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts.