CVE-2018-11712 in WebKit
Summary
by MITRE
WebCore/platform/network/soup/SocketStreamHandleImplSoup.cpp in the libsoup network backend of WebKit, as used in WebKitGTK+ versions 2.20.0 and 2.20.1, failed to perform TLS certificate verification for WebSocket connections.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11712 represents a critical security flaw in the WebKitGTK+ web browser engine's network handling component. This issue specifically affects the libsoup network backend implementation within WebKitGTK+ versions 2.20.0 and 2.20.1, where the WebSocket connection processing logic fails to properly validate TLS certificates during the secure communication establishment phase. The flaw exists in the SocketStreamHandleImplSoup.cpp file which governs how WebSocket connections are managed through the soup network library integration. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the security architecture that undermines the core purpose of Transport Layer Security protocols in protecting sensitive communications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of certificate validation procedures within the WebSocket protocol handling layer. When WebKitGTK+ establishes WebSocket connections, it should verify the server's TLS certificate against trusted certificate authorities and ensure proper certificate chain validation. However, the affected versions bypass this critical verification step, allowing malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks without detection. This flaw specifically impacts the WebSocket upgrade process where the initial HTTP connection is upgraded to a persistent WebSocket connection, and the certificate validation that should occur during this transition is either completely omitted or inadequately implemented. The vulnerability falls under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation and certificate chain verification failures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any system utilizing WebKitGTK+ versions 2.20.0 or 2.20.1. Applications built on this web engine, including web browsers, email clients, and integrated web viewing components, become susceptible to active network attacks where attackers can intercept, modify, or redirect WebSocket traffic. This creates opportunities for data exfiltration, session hijacking, and privilege escalation attacks that can compromise user credentials and sensitive information transmitted through WebSocket connections. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because WebSocket protocols are commonly used for real-time communication, financial transactions, and collaborative applications where secure communication is paramount. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1041 for data encryption and T1566 for credential access through network infiltration.
Organizations and developers utilizing WebKitGTK+ versions 2.20.0 or 2.20.1 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation is to upgrade to WebKitGTK+ versions that contain the patched implementation where proper TLS certificate validation is restored for WebSocket connections. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential WebSocket traffic interception attempts. The patch for this vulnerability specifically addresses the certificate validation logic in the SocketStreamHandleImplSoup.cpp file and ensures that WebSocket connections properly verify server certificates against established trust chains. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and traffic analysis to detect anomalous WebSocket communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date web engine components and the potential consequences of inadequate TLS certificate validation in modern web applications.