OSEC

Neohapsis is currently accepting applications for employment. For more information, please visit our website www.neohapsis.com or email hr@neohapsis.com
 
[sec-adv] Apple Safari and Konqueror Embedded Common Name Verification Vulnerability

From: Secunia Security Advisories (sec-advsecunia.com)
Date: Fri May 09 2003 - 12:06:51 CDT

TITLE:
Apple Safari and Konqueror Embedded Common Name Verification
Vulnerability

READ ONLINE:
http://www.secunia.com/advisories/8756/

CRITICAL:
Moderately critical

IMPACT:
ID Spoofing

WHERE:
From remote

OPERATING SYSTEM:

Apple Macintosh OS X

SOFTWARE:
Safari 1.x

Konqueror Embedded

DESCRIPTION:
Apple Safari and Konqueror Embedded fails to validate the Common Name
of a SSL certificate. This makes it possible to spoof SSL sites, so
that users can't trust the authenticity of a SSL website.

SSL serves two main purposes; one is to ensure the authenticity of
the server, which you are communicating with, the other is to provide
encrypted communication. The authenticity part is completely broken
when the Common Name isn't verified, since the user can't know if he
is communicating with the host in the address bar.

Exploitation of this requires that a malicious person is able to
perform DNS spoofing (eg. see CERT vulnerability note in "Other
References" section).

Internet Explorer and Netscape suffered similar vulnerabilities a few
years ago.

NOTE: This does not affect the ordinary version of Konqueror.

SOLUTION:
Do not use Apple Safari or Konqueror Embedded to access SSL sites,
where you need to trust the authenticity.

REPORTED BY / CREDITS:
Simson L. Garfinkel and Jesse Burns

OTHER REFERENCES:
DNS Spoofing:
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/457875

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Secunia recommends that you verify all advisories you receive, by
clicking the link.
Secunia NEVER sends attached files with advisories.
Secunia does not advise people to install third party patches, only
use those supplied by the vendor.

Contact details:
Web : http://www.secunia.com/
E-mail : supportsecunia.com
Tel : +44 (0) 20 7016 2693
Fax : +44 (0) 20 7637 0419

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Unsubscribe: Secunia Security Advisories

----------------------------------------------------------------------