CVE-2019-10101 in Kotlin
Summary
by MITRE
JetBrains Kotlin versions before 1.3.30 were resolving artifacts using an http connection during the build process, potentially allowing an MITM attack.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10101 affects JetBrains Kotlin versions prior to 1.3.30 and represents a significant security flaw in the build process artifact resolution mechanism. This issue stems from the use of unencrypted http connections during dependency resolution, creating an attack surface that adversaries could exploit to intercept and manipulate build artifacts. The flaw specifically impacts developers who rely on Kotlin's build system for managing project dependencies, potentially compromising the integrity of their software supply chain.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the insecure communication protocol used by the Kotlin build tools during artifact resolution. When the build process attempts to download dependencies from remote repositories, it defaults to using http instead of the more secure https protocol. This unencrypted communication channel exposes the build process to man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can intercept, modify, or replace artifacts during transit. The flaw demonstrates poor security hygiene in protocol selection and highlights the critical importance of using encrypted communication channels for all software artifact transfers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, potentially enabling attackers to inject malicious code into legitimate software builds. An attacker positioned within the network traffic path between the build system and remote repositories could substitute legitimate artifacts with compromised versions containing backdoors, trojans, or other malicious components. This represents a severe supply chain security risk where the integrity of the entire software development process becomes compromised, affecting not just individual projects but potentially multiple downstream consumers who rely on the integrity of the built artifacts.
Organizations and developers using affected Kotlin versions should immediately upgrade to version 1.3.30 or later to remediate this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy involves ensuring that all build processes utilize secure https connections for artifact resolution and implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious traffic patterns. Security practitioners should also consider implementing network segmentation, certificate pinning mechanisms, and regular security audits of build environments. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of communication channels, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1583.001 related to obtaining capabilities for supply chain attacks through manipulation of build systems. The incident underscores the critical need for secure coding practices and the implementation of security controls throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such vulnerabilities from compromising the integrity of software artifacts.