CWE-599: Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate

What is Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate?

• Overview: Missing Validation of OpenSSL Certificate (CWE-599) is a vulnerability that occurs when a software product uses OpenSSL to manage certificates but does not properly validate them using the SSL_get_verify_result() function. As a result, this oversight can lead the software to trust invalid, expired, or malicious certificates that don't meet necessary security requirements.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by presenting invalid or expired certificates that are mistakenly trusted by the application.
• Common attack patterns include man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks where attackers intercept and manipulate communications, and impersonation attacks where an attacker poses as a trusted entity.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include unauthorized access and interception of sensitive data.
• Potential cascading effects involve further network infiltration, data breaches, and compromised communications.
• Business impact could range from reputational damage due to data leaks, to financial losses from fraud and compliance violations.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes include implementing SSL_get_verify_result() to validate certificates and handle verification failures appropriately.
• Security best practices involve regular updates and patches for OpenSSL, comprehensive error handling, and enforcing strict certificate verification policies.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include using libraries that offer built-in certificate validation features and employing automated security scanning tools to detect improper certificate handling.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not specified

Affected Technologies: Not specified