CVE-2017-11706 in Fashion App
Summary
by MITRE
The Boozt Fashion application before 2.3.4 for Android allows remote attackers to read login credentials by sniffing the network and leveraging the lack of SSL. NOTE: the vendor response, before the application was changed to enable SSL logins, was "At the moment that is an accepted risk. We only have https on the checkout part of the site."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11706 affects the Boozt Fashion Android application version 2.3.3 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that exposes user authentication credentials to remote attackers. This weakness stems from the application's failure to implement proper transport layer security measures, specifically the absence of secure socket layer encryption for user login data transmission. The vulnerability exists within the application's network communication protocol where sensitive information including usernames and passwords are transmitted in plaintext over unencrypted channels, making them susceptible to interception by malicious actors positioned on the same network segment.
The technical implementation flaw represents a direct violation of fundamental security principles and aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of encryption. The application's network stack fails to enforce secure communication channels for authentication data, creating an attack surface that allows man-in-the-middle adversaries to capture login credentials during transmission. This vulnerability operates at the network layer where unencrypted HTTP traffic flows through the application's communication channels, bypassing any client-side security measures that might otherwise protect user credentials. The flaw demonstrates poor security architecture decisions and inadequate threat modeling during the application development lifecycle.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates a persistent risk for all users of the affected application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture authentication tokens and session identifiers, potentially enabling account takeover attacks and unauthorized access to user personal information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through standard network sniffing tools, making it particularly dangerous in public network environments such as coffee shops, airports, or corporate networks where attackers may easily position themselves to intercept traffic. The risk is compounded by the fact that the application's developers initially classified this as an "accepted risk" despite the clear security implications, indicating a lack of proper risk assessment and security awareness within the development organization.
The vendor's response to this vulnerability, which acknowledged the risk but chose not to implement immediate fixes, demonstrates a dangerous security posture that prioritizes user experience or development convenience over fundamental security requirements. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes the use of social engineering and network-based attacks to gain unauthorized access to systems. The application's failure to enforce SSL/TLS encryption for authentication data represents a critical gap in the security controls framework, as the vendor only implemented HTTPS encryption for checkout transactions while leaving the login process unprotected. This selective security implementation creates a false sense of security for users and leaves the most sensitive data exposed to interception. The vulnerability's resolution required the application to be updated to version 2.3.4, which implemented proper SSL/TLS encryption for all user authentication communications, demonstrating the importance of comprehensive security testing and continuous monitoring of application security controls. Organizations should implement network segmentation, monitor for unencrypted traffic, and enforce mandatory secure communication protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising user authentication data in mobile applications.