CVE-2017-17455 : What You Need to Know

This CVE involves vulnerabilities in Mahara versions prior to 16.10.7, 17.04.5, and 17.10.2 that could allow attackers to force connections over HTTP instead of HTTPS.

Understanding CVE-2017-17455

This CVE highlights a security issue in Mahara that could lead to man-in-the-middle attacks forcing HTTP connections instead of HTTPS.

What is CVE-2017-17455?

Versions before 16.10.7, 17.04.5, and 17.10.2 of Mahara are susceptible to being compelled, through a man-in-the-middle assault, to connect using HTTP instead of HTTPS, even with an SSL certificate.

The Impact of CVE-2017-17455

This vulnerability could expose sensitive data to interception and manipulation by malicious actors conducting man-in-the-middle attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-17455

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to force Mahara connections over HTTP, bypassing the secure HTTPS protocol, even in the presence of SSL certificates.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mahara versions prior to 16.10.7
Mahara versions prior to 17.04.5
Mahara versions prior to 17.10.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting communications between Mahara instances and users, coercing the use of insecure HTTP connections.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-17455 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mahara to versions 16.10.7, 17.04.5, or 17.10.2 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement strict network security measures to detect and prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce HTTPS communication for all Mahara interactions.
Regularly monitor and audit network traffic for any suspicious activities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Mahara.
Apply patches promptly to ensure the system is protected against known vulnerabilities.