CVE-2013-6422

The GnuTLS backend in libcurl 7.21.4 through 7.33.0, when disabling digital signature verification (CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER), also disables the CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST check for CN or SAN host name fields, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof servers and conduct man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

The GnuTLS backend in libcurl 7.21.4 through 7.33.0, when disabling digital signature verification (CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER), also disables the CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST check for CN or SAN host name fields, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof servers and conduct man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

The GnuTLS backend in libcurl 7.21.4 through 7.33.0, when disabling digital signature verification (CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER), also disables the CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST check for CN or SAN host name fields, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof servers and conduct man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

The GnuTLS backend in libcurl 7.21.4 through 7.33.0, when disabling digital signature verification (CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER), also disables the CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST check for CN or SAN host name fields, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof servers and conduct man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

(This issue is almost identical to the one named CVE-2013-4545, but this problem affects a different SSL backend.)

libcurl is vulnerable to a case of missing out the checking of the certificate CN or SAN name field when the digital signature verification is turned off.

libcurl offers two separate and independent options for verifying a server's TLS certificate. CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER and CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST. The first one tells libcurl to verify the trust chain using a CA cert bundle, while the second tells libcurl to make sure that the name fields in the server certificate meets the criteria. Both options are enabled by default.

This flaw had the effect that when an application disabled CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, libcurl mistakenly also skipped the CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST check. Applications can disable CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER and still achieve security by doing the check on its own using other means.

The curl command line tool is not affected by this problem as it either enables both options or disables both at the same time.

The GnuTLS backend in libcurl 7.21.4 through 7.33.0, when disabling digital signature verification (CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER), also disables the CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST check for CN or SAN host name fields, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof servers and conduct man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

The GnuTLS backend in libcurl 7.21.4 through 7.33.0, when disabling digital signature verification (CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER), also disables the CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST check for CN or SAN host name fields, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof servers and conduct man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.