CVE-2016-1148 in Smart Lock Robot App
Summary
by MITRE
Akerun - Smart Lock Robot App for iOS before 1.2.4 does not verify SSL certificates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1148 affects the Akerun Smart Lock Robot mobile application for iOS devices running versions prior to 1.2.4. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's network communication security implementation that exposes users to significant risks during data transmission between their mobile devices and the smart lock system. The vulnerability specifically relates to the application's failure to properly validate SSL certificates when establishing secure connections to remote servers, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise the communication channel.
This technical flaw falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is categorized as CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The absence of SSL certificate verification creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where attackers can intercept and potentially modify communications between the iOS application and the backend services. When an application fails to verify SSL certificates, it essentially allows connections to proceed regardless of whether the server presenting the certificate is legitimate or if the certificate has been issued by a trusted authority. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of secure communication and trust establishment in networked applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential unauthorized access to smart lock systems and compromise of user authentication mechanisms. Mobile applications that control physical security devices like smart locks represent high-value targets for attackers due to the direct physical access control they provide. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially gain access to the smart lock system through the mobile application, bypassing traditional authentication mechanisms and potentially gaining unauthorized physical access to secured facilities. The risk is compounded by the fact that users may unknowingly connect to malicious servers that present fake certificates, believing they are communicating with legitimate services.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with tactics and techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the "Credential Access" and "Initial Access" domains. The lack of certificate validation creates an initial access point for attackers to establish malicious communication channels, potentially leading to credential theft or unauthorized device control. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Akerun iOS application version 1.2.4 or later, which presumably includes proper SSL certificate verification. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate certificate validation failures or attempts to establish unauthorized connections to the smart lock system infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of certificate validation in mobile security implementations and serves as a reminder that even seemingly simple security measures like SSL verification can have profound impacts on overall system security posture.