CVE-2017-13105 in Hi Security Virus Cleaner - Antivirus Booster
Summary
by MITRE
Hi Security Virus Cleaner - Antivirus, Booster, 3.7.1.1329, 2017-09-13, Android application accepts all SSL certificates during SSL communication. This opens the application up to a man-in-the-middle attack having all of its encrypted traffic intercepted and read by an attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13105 affects Hi Security Virus Cleaner - Antivirus, Booster version 3.7.1.1329 released on September 13, 2017, representing a critical security flaw in Android application development practices. This vulnerability stems from the application's improper implementation of SSL certificate validation mechanisms, specifically its acceptance of all SSL certificates during secure communication processes. The flaw fundamentally undermines the cryptographic security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, creating a dangerous exposure for users of the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the application's failure to properly validate SSL certificates against trusted certificate authorities during network communications. This insecure programming practice allows the application to accept self-signed certificates, expired certificates, or certificates issued by untrusted authorities without proper verification. The flaw directly violates established security protocols and represents a classic example of improper certificate validation as classified under CWE-295, which specifically addresses the validation of certificates. When an application accepts all SSL certificates indiscriminately, it creates an attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting and decrypting the application's encrypted communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it exposes all network traffic generated by the application to potential interception and reading by attackers. This includes sensitive user data, authentication credentials, personal information, and any other data transmitted over encrypted channels. The vulnerability particularly affects the application's ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity of communications, which are fundamental security properties that users expect from security applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on user activities, capture login information, access personal data, and potentially redirect users to malicious websites while maintaining the illusion of secure communication. This threat is exacerbated by the fact that the application is designed as an antivirus and security tool, making users more likely to trust its communications and less likely to suspect the presence of such a critical vulnerability.
The security implications extend beyond simple data interception, as this vulnerability creates a complete breakdown in the trust model that secure applications depend upon. The application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms means that attackers can establish fake secure connections to the application's servers, potentially leading to data manipulation, credential theft, or complete compromise of the user's security posture. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes data compression and encryption for exfiltration, as attackers can more easily intercept and analyze the application's network traffic. Organizations and users should recognize that this vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices and emphasizes the critical importance of implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate validation in mobile applications. The remediation requires immediate implementation of proper certificate validation, including certificate pinning, trusted certificate authority verification, and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in mobile application development and highlights the specific risks associated with improper SSL certificate handling. The flaw represents a failure to implement basic security controls that are fundamental to protecting user data and maintaining the integrity of network communications. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as a prime example of how seemingly simple coding errors can create catastrophic security implications, particularly in applications that handle sensitive user information and network communications.