CVE-2017-17944 in Vivobaby App
Summary
by MITRE
The ASUS Vivobaby application before 1.1.09 for Android has Missing SSL Certificate Validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2023
The CVE-2017-17944 vulnerability affects the ASUS Vivobaby mobile application running on Android platforms prior to version 1.1.09. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's network communication security implementation, specifically concerning SSL certificate validation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL certificates when establishing secure connections to remote servers, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors.
This missing SSL certificate validation issue falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and improper certificate validation as defined by CWE-295, which specifically addresses the validation of certificates. The vulnerability creates an environment where the application becomes susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks, allowing attackers to intercept and potentially modify communication between the mobile device and the application's backend services. When SSL certificate validation is disabled or bypassed, the application cannot verify the authenticity of the server it is communicating with, effectively removing a fundamental security control that protects against unauthorized access and data interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data confidentiality concerns to encompass potential data integrity and authentication risks. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create pathways for attackers to establish fraudulent connections with the application servers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user data, session hijacking, and the injection of malicious content. In the context of a baby monitoring application like ASUS Vivobaby, this vulnerability could expose sensitive family information, including audio and video feeds, personal identification data, and communication records. The threat landscape for such applications is particularly concerning given the nature of the data being transmitted and stored, as the compromised security could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to real-time monitoring capabilities and potentially manipulate the device's functionality.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the ATT&CK framework under T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing, as attackers could leverage the missing certificate validation to conduct reconnaissance on the application's network infrastructure or establish persistent access through fraudulent server impersonation. The vulnerability also maps to T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as compromised applications might redirect traffic to malicious domains that could be used for further exploitation. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader mobile application security frameworks, particularly in IoT and consumer device applications where user privacy and data protection are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network communication layer. The most effective remediation involves updating the application to version 1.1.09 or later, which includes proper certificate validation routines. Security measures should also include implementing certificate pinning techniques to prevent the application from accepting certificates from untrusted authorities, establishing robust certificate management processes, and conducting regular security assessments of mobile application communications. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the application should be designed with security by default principles, ensuring that all network communications require proper certificate validation before establishing secure connections, thereby preventing the exploitation of this vulnerability and protecting user data from unauthorized access.