CVE-2017-8936 in Dolphin Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
The MoboTap Dolphin Web Browser - Fast Private Internet Search app 9.23.0 through 9.23.2 for iOS does not verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8936 affects the MoboTap Dolphin Web Browser application version 9.23.0 through 9.23.2 on iOS platforms. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols that directly impacts the integrity of encrypted web connections. The issue stems from the browser's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS handshakes, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security assurances that users expect from secure web browsing.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate verification mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When establishing secure connections to web servers, the browser should validate the server's X.509 certificate against trusted Certificate Authority roots and verify that the certificate matches the domain being accessed. However, this implementation fails to perform these critical validation steps, allowing malicious actors to present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable browser. This weakness directly maps to CWE-295 which describes improper certificate validation and represents a classic example of how weak cryptographic implementation can compromise entire security architectures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, creating a comprehensive attack surface that enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle operations. Attackers can exploit this flaw to impersonate legitimate websites, redirect users to malicious domains, and capture sensitive information transmitted through the vulnerable browser. This includes but is not limited to login credentials, personal identification information, financial data, and other confidential communications that users expect to remain private and secure. The vulnerability affects all web traffic processed through the affected browser version, making it particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with persistent access to user data across all visited websites.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the initial access and credential access domains. The ability to spoof SSL certificates directly supports techniques such as credential harvesting and network sniffing operations. Security professionals should recognize this as a prime example of how mobile application security flaws can create persistent attack vectors that remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that iOS users typically trust the applications they install, making the exploitation of such flaws more likely to succeed in real-world scenarios.
Organizations and users should immediately update to the latest version of the MoboTap Dolphin Web Browser that addresses this certificate verification issue. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing certificate pinning mechanisms where possible, maintaining up-to-date security patches, and conducting regular security assessments of mobile applications. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the potential consequences when security controls are insufficiently designed or deployed. The issue demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks that affect user privacy and data protection across all online activities.