TLS/SSL Finding Remediation & Remediation Verification

The most common issues with TLS/SSL certificates and their configurations stem from:

• A lack of appropriate signatures (no root or leaf certificate in chain, self-signed certificate, expired certificate).
• The enablement of insecure ciphers.

Commands for checking and verifying that a TLS/SSL Certificates or TLS/SSL Configurations finding is remediated:

• Identifying Findings
• Verifying Configuration and Certificate Details
• Checking Configurations (Ciphers)
• Checking the Size of the Diffie-Hellman Prime Key (Cipher)
• Verifying an Updated Certificate:
  • Identifying Assets with TLS/SSL Certificates Findings
  • Identifying the Active Certificate

Identifying Findings

• TLS/SSL Certificates: When viewing TLS/SSL Certificate findings, use the Certificate Serial Number as the finding identifier.
• TLS/SSL Configurations: When viewing TLS/SSL Configuration findings, refer to the finding identifier or rolled up ID.

Verifying Configuration and Certificate Details

See a certificate’s details and its configurations, including:

• Expiration date
• Certificate signers/providers
• The certificate chain

openssl s_client -connect IP Address:port -servername domain.com < /dev/null | openssl x509 -in /dev/stdin -text -noout

-servername domain.com is optional depending on the test being performed.

Checking Configurations (Ciphers)

This command outputs all ciphers enabled in the server which you can use to get a general glance at the configurations.

sslscan --tlsall IP Address:port

You can test by version instead of testing all ciphers at once by specifying a version; replace --tlsall with the appropriate version:

• --ssl2 (for SSLv2)
• --ssl3 (for SSLv3)
• --tls10 (for TLSv1.0)
• --tls11 (for TLSv1.1)
• --tls12 (TLSv1.2).

If a result is not returned, either the server doesn’t support it or the cipher is not enabled.

Checking the Size of the Diffie-Hellman Prime Key (Cipher)

Get key size details of any configured DHE keys on the listed asset, including the bit size of the public key.

Though DH is the most common instance, you can use different key values as needed; Replace DH with EDH or ECDH depending on the type of Diffie-Hellman configuration.

openssl s_client -connect IP address:port -cipher "DH" | grep "Server Temp Key"

Verifying an Updated Certificate

Updating a certificate generates a new finding. It does not replace the previous finding.

• The newer certificate is assigned its own serial number distinguishing it from the previous certificate.
• The previous finding is no longer updated and remains until it completes its lifetime.

Learn how the TLS/SSL Certificates risk vector is observed.

Identifying Assets with TLS/SSL Certificates Findings

If you’ve recently updated or replaced your certificates, check for affiliated assets and use the Certificate Serial Number as the finding identifier to check if new findings have appeared.

To incorporate IP/domain information into your internal processes:

• When viewing TLS/SSL Certificate findings, go into the Details tab to see where it was observed. The IP or Domain is listed under Key Evidence.
• Refer to the Certificate Subject Alternate field in Findings.
• Refer to the details.diligence_annotations.certchain.dnsName field for the Bitsight API.

Identifying the Active Certificate

To identify the newest certificate, refer to the Serial Number of Certificate 1 in the certificate chain [Findings ➔ Finding Details ➔ Certificate Chain ➔ Certificate 1 ➔ Serial Number].