CVE-2017-8058 in HipChat
Summary
by MITRE
Acceptance of invalid/self-signed TLS certificates in Atlassian HipChat before 3.16.2 for iOS allows a man-in-the-middle and/or physically proximate attacker to silently intercept information sent during the login API call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8058 represents a critical security flaw in Atlassian HipChat iOS applications prior to version 3.16.2, where the software fails to properly validate TLS certificates during secure communications. This weakness creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting invalid or self-signed certificates that the application accepts without proper verification. The vulnerability specifically impacts the login API call process, where sensitive authentication information is transmitted, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where user credentials and session data are at risk.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper certificate validation mechanisms within the iOS application's secure communication stack. When HipChat attempts to establish a TLS connection with its servers, the application should verify the certificate chain against trusted certificate authorities and validate that the certificate is properly signed and not expired. However, the vulnerable version fails to enforce these security checks, allowing attackers to intercept communications by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This behavior directly violates security standards such as those outlined in CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 related to credential access through phishing attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the application and exposes organizations to significant risks. Attackers can silently capture login credentials, session tokens, and other sensitive information transmitted during the authentication process without the application or users detecting the compromise. This capability particularly affects enterprise deployments where HipChat serves as a primary communication platform for sensitive business operations. The vulnerability is especially concerning because it allows both remote attackers capable of performing man-in-the-middle attacks and physically proximate attackers to exploit the flaw, expanding the potential attack vectors and making the vulnerability more accessible to threat actors.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to HipChat version 3.16.2 or later, which addresses the certificate validation issue through proper TLS implementation. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish certificate pinning policies where appropriate. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive authentication data. Organizations using HipChat or similar communication platforms should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their mobile application environments and ensure that all third-party applications implement robust certificate validation mechanisms. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the essential security controls required in mobile application development and the potential consequences of inadequate TLS implementation in enterprise communication tools.