CVE-2018-0650 in Line Music
Summary
by MITRE
The LINE MUSIC for Android version 3.1.0 to versions prior to 3.6.5 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 • 03/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0650 affects LINE MUSIC for Android applications running versions 3.1.0 through 3.6.4, representing a critical security flaw in the mobile application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing the failure to validate SSL/TLS certificates. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, as it essentially disables the primary mechanism designed to establish trust between the client and server in encrypted communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent SSL certificates that the application accepts without proper verification. When the LINE MUSIC application establishes connections to its servers, it should validate the server's certificate against trusted certificate authorities and verify that the certificate matches the expected hostname. However, due to the lack of proper certificate validation, the application accepts any certificate presented by an attacker, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This weakness enables attackers to intercept and potentially modify communications between the mobile application and its backend services, creating opportunities to capture sensitive user information, session tokens, and other confidential data transmitted over the network. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core security mechanisms that protect user privacy and data integrity.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0650 extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates multiple attack vectors that can be leveraged for more sophisticated cyber operations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to conduct session hijacking, steal user credentials, manipulate application functionality, and potentially gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected LINE MUSIC versions, making it a widespread security risk that impacts the privacy and security of millions of users. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 tactic for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting. The compromised application becomes a potential entry point for further attacks, as attackers can use the intercepted communications to gather intelligence about the application's architecture and user behavior patterns.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe given that LINE MUSIC is a popular music streaming application that likely handles sensitive user information including personal details, payment information, and potentially location data. The vulnerability creates a trust relationship that should exist between the application and its servers, but instead allows attackers to establish false trust relationships. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader security posture assessment, particularly when evaluating mobile application security and the implementation of secure communication protocols. The fix for this vulnerability requires implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms, including certificate pinning where appropriate, and ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections validate certificates against trusted authorities. This incident highlights the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights can create significant risks for both users and organizations.
The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of following security best practices in mobile application development, particularly regarding secure communication implementation. The proper implementation of certificate validation should include checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate chains, and ensuring hostname matching. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as certificate pinning to prevent attackers from using compromised certificate authorities to bypass validation. This vulnerability demonstrates how the absence of fundamental security controls can lead to serious consequences, and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing and code review processes in mobile application development. The remediation process should involve thorough testing of the certificate validation implementation to ensure that it properly handles edge cases and does not introduce new vulnerabilities while maintaining the application's functionality and user experience.