CVE-2016-9319 in Enterprise Mobile Security
Summary
by MITRE
There is Missing SSL Certificate Validation in the Trend Micro Enterprise Mobile Security Android Application before 9.7.1193, aka VRTS-398.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9319 represents a critical security flaw in the Trend Micro Enterprise Mobile Security Android application where the software fails to properly validate SSL certificates during network communications. This missing certificate validation mechanism creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks and intercept sensitive data transmitted between mobile devices and enterprise servers. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 9.7.1193, indicating that Trend Micro had not yet implemented proper certificate validation procedures in their mobile security solution.
This technical weakness fundamentally undermines the security foundation of the application by allowing attackers to establish fraudulent connections with the mobile device without proper authentication. The absence of SSL certificate validation means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a malicious server, effectively disabling the cryptographic protection that should ensure secure communication channels. This flaw directly relates to CWE-295, which describes improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 where adversaries use unencrypted communication channels to avoid detection. The vulnerability creates a trust relationship that should never be established, allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate enterprise servers and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it compromises the integrity of the entire mobile security solution. Mobile devices running affected versions of Trend Micro Enterprise Mobile Security become vulnerable to credential theft, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture login credentials, personal information, and enterprise data that should remain protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where mobile security solutions are critical for protecting sensitive corporate data, making it particularly dangerous in high-security organizations that rely on such protection mechanisms.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Trend Micro Enterprise Mobile Security version 9.7.1193 or later, which contains the proper SSL certificate validation implementation. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts, while security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their mobile security infrastructure. The remediation process should include verifying that all mobile devices have been updated and that proper certificate pinning mechanisms are in place. Organizations may also want to consider implementing network segmentation and additional encryption layers to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and validation in mobile security solutions, particularly when handling sensitive enterprise data.