CVE-2017-8059 in Foxit
Summary
by MITRE
Acceptance of invalid/self-signed TLS certificates in "Foxit PDF - PDF reader, editor, form, signature" before 5.4 for iOS allows a man-in-the-middle and/or physically proximate attacker to silently intercept login information (username/password), in addition to the static authentication token if the user is already logged in.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8059 affects the Foxit PDF reader application for iOS versions prior to 5.4, specifically targeting the application's handling of Transport Layer Security certificates during network communications. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of encrypted connections between the mobile application and remote servers. The issue manifests when the application accepts invalid or self-signed certificates without proper validation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship that should exist between legitimate services and client applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate certificate validation mechanisms within the Foxit PDF application's secure communication stack. When establishing connections to web services for authentication or data synchronization, the application fails to properly verify the authenticity of SSL/TLS certificates presented by the server. This failure allows attackers to present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to establish man-in-the-middle positions in network communications. The vulnerability specifically impacts authentication flows where users provide login credentials, including username and password combinations, as well as static authentication tokens that may already be present in the application's session state.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass comprehensive session hijacking capabilities. An attacker positioned either remotely or physically proximate to a victim's device can silently capture authentication information without alerting the user to the security compromise. This includes not only initial login credentials but also persistent authentication tokens that maintain user sessions across multiple interactions with the service. The implications are particularly severe for mobile environments where users may connect to untrusted networks or operate in proximity to malicious actors. The vulnerability essentially eliminates the security benefits of TLS encryption for the affected application, rendering network communications vulnerable to passive and active attacks.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1041 for data compression and T1566 for credential access through phishing or network interception. Organizations using Foxit PDF reader on iOS devices face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive documents, potential exposure of confidential business information, and compromise of user identities across connected services. The vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and certificate pinning implementation, where applications should maintain strict validation of cryptographic certificates to prevent unauthorized entities from establishing trusted connections.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application updates to version 5.4 or later, which presumably implements proper certificate validation mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual certificate behavior and establish certificate pinning policies where appropriate. Mobile device management solutions should enforce security policies that prevent installation of vulnerable applications and ensure timely updates. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of connecting to untrusted networks and the importance of keeping applications updated. Organizations may need to implement additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication to provide defense-in-depth against potential exploitation of this vulnerability. The incident highlights the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the need for regular security assessments of third-party software components used in enterprise environments.