CVE-2020-11580 : What You Need to Know
Discover the security flaw in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) allowing arbitrary SSL certificates. Learn the impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps for CVE-2020-11580.
An issue was discovered in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) through 2020-04-06. The applet in tncc.jar, executed on macOS, Linux, and Solaris clients when a Host Checker policy is enforced, accepts an arbitrary SSL certificate.
Understanding CVE-2020-11580
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) that allows the acceptance of arbitrary SSL certificates when a Host Checker policy is enforced.
What is CVE-2020-11580?
CVE-2020-11580 is a security flaw in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) that could be exploited by attackers to use arbitrary SSL certificates on macOS, Linux, and Solaris clients.
The Impact of CVE-2020-11580
This vulnerability could lead to man-in-the-middle attacks, where malicious actors could intercept and modify communication between the affected clients and servers, potentially compromising sensitive data.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-11580
This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The issue lies in the applet in tncc.jar, which does not properly validate SSL certificates, allowing the acceptance of arbitrary certificates.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) through 2020-04-06
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by enforcing a Host Checker policy and presenting a malicious SSL certificate to the affected clients.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2020-11580 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any signs of unauthorized SSL certificates.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement strong SSL certificate validation mechanisms.
- Regularly review and update security policies to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Apply security patches provided by Pulse Secure to fix the vulnerability and enhance system security.