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Insecure service configuration - App Transport Security

Description​

The NSAppTransportSecurity function has the NSAllowsArbitraryLoads option enabled which allows insecure (HTTP) connections to the application. Good security practices state that insecure connections from the app to external servers should not be allowed.

Impact​

Conduct MitM attacks over insecure channels to obtain sensitive user information.

Recommendation​

Configure in the applications info.plist following good security practices.

Threat​

Internal attacker on the same network segment.

Expected Remediation Time​

⌚ 30 minutes.

Score​

Default score using CVSS 3.1. It may change depending on the context of the vulnerability.

Base​

  • Attack vector: A
  • Attack complexity: H
  • Privileges required: N
  • User interaction: R
  • Scope: U
  • Confidentiality: L
  • Integrity: N
  • Availability: N

Temporal​

  • Exploit code madurity: X
  • Remediation level: O
  • Report confidence: X

Result​

  • Vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:X/RL:O/RC:X
  • Score:
    • Base: 2.6
    • Temporal: 2.5
  • Severity:
    • Base: Low
    • Temporal: Low

Code Examples​

Compliant code​

The info.plist is correctly configured to avoid insecure http loads

<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
  <key>NSExceptionDomains</key>
  <dict>
    <key>yourdomain.com</key>
    <dict>
      <key>NSTemporaryExceptionAllowsInsecureHTTPLoads</key>
      <false/>
      <key>NSAllowsArbitraryLoads</key>
      <false/>
    </dict>
  </dict>
</dict>

Non compliant code​

The info.plist file has some insecure parameters

<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
  <key>NSExceptionDomains</key>
  <dict>
    <key>yourdomain.com</key>
    <dict>
      <key>NSTemporaryExceptionAllowsInsecureHTTPLoads</key>
      <true/>
      <key>NSAllowsArbitraryLoads</key>
      <true/>
    </dict>
  </dict>
</dict>

Requirements​

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