CVE-2017-10819 in MaLion
Summary
by MITRE
MaLion for Mac 4.3.0 to 5.2.1 does not properly validate certificates, which may allow an attacker to eavesdrop on an encrypted communication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10819 affects MaLion for Mac versions 4.3.0 through 5.2.1, representing a critical flaw in the application's certificate validation mechanisms. This issue falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and improper certificate validation, which directly compromises the security of encrypted communications. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during the establishment of secure connections, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to verify the authenticity and integrity of SSL/TLS certificates presented by servers during secure communication sessions. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without proper validation. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate chain validation process, where the application fails to check certificate revocation status, verify certificate signatures, or ensure proper certificate trust chains. This flaw operates at the transport layer security validation level and directly violates established security protocols that require robust certificate validation to maintain secure communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables eavesdropping on encrypted communications that users believe to be secure. Attackers can intercept and potentially modify data transmitted between users and servers, compromising sensitive information including personal data, financial information, and business communications. The vulnerability affects any application using MaLion for Mac versions within the specified range when establishing secure connections to web services, email servers, or other network resources that rely on SSL/TLS encryption. This creates a persistent threat vector that could remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to systematically harvest sensitive data from affected systems.
Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to the latest version of MaLion for Mac that addresses this certificate validation flaw. The mitigation strategy involves implementing proper certificate validation procedures and ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections undergo rigorous verification before establishing secure communication channels. Security professionals should also consider deploying network monitoring tools to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and implement additional security controls such as certificate pinning where appropriate. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure communication protocols as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards. The issue demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in client-side applications that handle sensitive communications.