CVE-2021-21385 in Mifos-Mobile App
Summary
by MITRE • 03/25/2021
Mifos-Mobile Android Application for MifosX is an Android Application built on top of the MifosX Self-Service platform. Mifos-Mobile before commit e505f62 disables HTTPS hostname verification of its HTTP client. Additionally it accepted any self-signed certificate as valid. Hostname verification is an important part when using HTTPS to ensure that the presented certificate is valid for the host. Disabling it can allow for man-in-the-middle attacks. Accepting any certificate, even self-signed ones allows man-in-the-middle attacks. This problem is fixed in mifos-mobile commit e505f62.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-21385 affects the Mifos-Mobile Android application, which serves as a mobile interface for the MifosX Self-Service platform. This mobile application represents a critical security weakness within the financial services ecosystem, particularly concerning data integrity and user authentication. The flaw exists in the application's HTTP client implementation where it deliberately disables HTTPS hostname verification and accepts any self-signed certificate without proper validation. This configuration fundamentally undermines the security assurances that HTTPS protocols are designed to provide, creating a dangerous attack surface for mobile banking and financial management applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during secure communications. When hostname verification is disabled, the application cannot confirm that the server it connects to is actually the legitimate host it intends to communicate with. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a severe deviation from secure coding practices. The acceptance of any certificate, including self-signed ones, removes the essential certificate chain validation that prevents attackers from substituting malicious certificates for legitimate ones during network communications. This flaw enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting and modifying communications between the mobile application and the MifosX backend services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that secure mobile financial applications depend upon. Mobile banking and financial management applications handle sensitive user data including personal identification information, financial account details, and transaction records. When an attacker can successfully perform a man-in-the-middle attack due to disabled hostname verification, they can potentially access user credentials, financial data, and manipulate transactions without detection. This vulnerability affects not just individual users but could potentially compromise entire financial institutions' mobile services, particularly given the widespread adoption of MifosX platforms in developing markets where mobile banking adoption is high. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no specialized tools beyond standard network interception capabilities, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
The remediation for this vulnerability involves updating the Mifos-Mobile application to commit e505f62, which restores proper HTTPS certificate validation mechanisms. This fix ensures that the application properly validates hostname certificates and implements appropriate certificate chain validation procedures. Organizations using this platform should immediately implement the updated version and conduct security assessments to verify that all network communications are properly secured. The fix addresses the underlying ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel," by ensuring that data transmission channels cannot be easily compromised through certificate manipulation. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper certificate management practices and adhering to security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate lifecycle management and secure communications protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attack attempts and establish proper security awareness training for users regarding the importance of secure mobile applications.