Acer Portal Android Application - MITM SSL Certificate Vulnerability 
(CVE-2016-5648)


Overview

"Acer BYOC’s suite of Apps allows you to start building your own cloud to connect and share everything in your life between your smart devices and your computer.  Freely manage anything from photos to movies to documents all over the cloud!"

"Register your Acer ID, and activate your Acer BYOC apps today."

(http://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/byoc-consumer)
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.acer.ccd)


Issue

The Acer Portal Android application (version 3.9.3.2006 and below), installed by the manufacturer on all Acer branded Android devices, does not validate the SSL certificate it receives when connecting to the mobile application login server.


Impact

An attacker who can perform a man in the middle attack may present a bogus SSL certificate which the application will accept silently. Usernames, passwords and sensitive information could be captured by an attacker without the user's knowledge.


Timeline

May 27, 2016 - Attempted to notify Acer via security@acer.com & secure@acer.com, both emails bounced
June 1, 2016 - Provided the vulnerability details to CERT/CC
June 2, 2016 - CERT/CC advised they will contact Acer to provide a vulnerability report and track the remediation progress
June 22, 2016 - CERT/CC confirmed Acer received the vulnerability report and are working on an updated version
June 30, 2016 - Acer released version 3.9.4.2000 which resolves this vulnerability


Solution

Upgrade to version 3.9.4.2000 or later

CVE-ID:

CVE-2016-5648

CERT/CC Report

https://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/690343

Questions?

http://www.info-sec.ca/contact.html