CVE-2021-32755 : What You Need to Know

Wire is a collaboration platform where the wire-ios-transport component handles authentication, network failures, and retries specifically for the iOS implementation of Wire. In version 3.82 of the iOS application, a new websocket implementation was introduced without certificate pinning enforcement for users on iOS 13 or higher. The issue is resolved in version 3.84 and above.

Understanding CVE-2021-32755

This CVE highlights an improper certificate validation vulnerability in the wire-ios-transport component of the Wire collaboration platform, potentially impacting users running the specified versions of the iOS application.

What is CVE-2021-32755?

The vulnerability in CVE-2021-32755 arises from the lack of certificate pinning enforcement on the new websocket implementation introduced in Wire's iOS application versions 3.82 to 3.83.

The Impact of CVE-2021-32755

The impact of this vulnerability can lead to potential security risks as the absence of certificate pinning allows for potential man-in-the-middle attacks, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted over the websocket connection.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-32755

The vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism are crucial to understanding the technical aspects of CVE-2021-32755.

Vulnerability Description

In versions 3.82 to 3.83 of the Wire iOS application, certificate pinning is not enforced on the new websocket implementation, leaving the connection susceptible to unauthorized interception and potential data breaches.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: wire-ios-transport
Vendor: wireapp
Affected Version: 3.8.2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by intercepting the unsecured websocket connection, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive data and unauthorized access.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-32755, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Wire iOS application to version 3.84 or above to ensure the enforcement of certificate pinning on the websocket connection, enhancing the security of data transmissions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regular security assessments, and ensuring proper certificate validation mechanisms can enhance the overall security posture of the application.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating the Wire iOS application to the latest versions provided by the vendor is crucial to address known vulnerabilities, including CVE-2021-32755 and ensure overall security resilience.