CVE-2026-13462: PayRange Android SSL Certificate Validation Bypass – HIGH Risk

Technical summary

CVE-2026-13462 is an SSL/TLS certificate validation bypass in the PayRange Android application's webview implementation. The app does not enforce certificate pinning or proper hostname verification, allowing attackers to perform man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks against encrypted connections. When a user navigates to URLs within affected webviews, the application accepts certificates that would normally fail validation—including self-signed, expired, or mismatched certificates. This breaks the confidentiality guarantee of HTTPS and exposes any data transmitted in plaintext or encrypted with the attacker's certificate to passive interception.

Business impact

For organizations using PayRange for mobile transactions or payments, this vulnerability creates direct financial and reputational risk. Payment data, account credentials, or personal information entered through the app could be captured by attackers. Beyond direct theft, the vulnerability undermines trust in the app's security posture and may trigger compliance concerns under PCI DSS and similar standards that mandate secure transmission of sensitive data. Incident response and notification obligations could follow any confirmed exploitation. Users may abandon the app or service if the vulnerability becomes widely known before patching.

Affected systems

PayRange Android application version 7.0.7 and all earlier versions are affected. The vulnerability is specific to Android; iOS and web versions are not mentioned in the available data. Organizations deploying PayRange for in-venue or mobile payments should assume all Android installations at or below version 7.0.7 are at risk.

Exploitability

Exploitability is high. No user interaction beyond normal app usage is required—simply using the app's webviews places users at risk. No authentication is necessary; an attacker only needs network access or the ability to intercept traffic (e.g., via compromised WiFi, DNS hijacking, or BGP hijacking for large-scale attacks). The attack surface is broad because any webview navigation can be intercepted. However, the attacker must be positioned on the network path between the user and the server, which is the main practical constraint.

Remediation

Update the PayRange Android app to a version that implements proper SSL certificate validation, including hostname verification and ideally certificate pinning for critical endpoints. Users should upgrade immediately upon availability of a patched version. Organizations managing PayRange deployments should verify vendor release notes for security patches and enforce updates through their mobile device management (MDM) policies if available.

Patch guidance

Consult the PayRange vendor advisory or release notes for confirmed patched versions above 7.0.7. Apply updates through the official Google Play Store or your organization's app distribution channel. If an MDM solution is in place, push the update as mandatory to all enrolled devices running the PayRange app. Verify the app version on sample devices post-update to confirm successful deployment. Do not rely on user-initiated updates alone for sensitive payment applications.

Detection guidance

Monitor network traffic for unusual certificate patterns in flows involving PayRange app connections, such as self-signed or invalid certificates. Implement certificate pinning validation at network gateways if possible. On endpoints, review application logs and system security events for webview certificate warnings or SSL errors. User reports of unexpected re-authentication or payment failures may indicate active exploitation. In environments with app analytics, correlate app crashes or webview errors with the vulnerability timeline.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability merits urgent priority due to its HIGH CVSS score (7.5), direct impact on financial data confidentiality, ease of exploitation, and the sensitivity of the PayRange use case (payment processing). The lack of complexity, broad affected user base, and minimal attacker prerequisites make it an attractive target. Rapid patching and user communication are essential to prevent data theft and regulatory fallout.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 (HIGH) reflects a network-accessible vulnerability with no authentication required and high confidentiality impact, but no integrity or availability impact. The score correctly emphasizes the confidentiality risk to user data. In context, any payment or financial services app with an SSL bypass deserves consideration as critical regardless of CVSS, given the downstream business and compliance consequences.

Frequently asked questions