CVE-2014-1967 in Denny's
Summary
by MITRE
The Denny s application before 2.0.1 for Android does not verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1967 represents a critical security flaw in the Denny s mobile application for Android platforms prior to version 2.0.1. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate verification within SSL/TLS implementations, creating a significant pathway for malicious actors to compromise user data integrity. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communication establishment, effectively disabling the fundamental security mechanism designed to authenticate server identities and protect against unauthorized access.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation, certificate expiration checks, or hostname verification processes that are standard requirements for secure SSL/TLS connections. This weakness creates an environment where attackers can successfully execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The certificate validation process typically involves checking the certificate authority signature, verifying certificate expiration dates, and ensuring that the certificate's subject matches the target server's hostname, but the Denny s application neglects these crucial verification steps.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risk of data interception and theft, particularly when the application handles sensitive information such as personal identification details, payment information, or confidential communications. Attackers exploiting this flaw can transparently intercept and modify data transmitted between the mobile application and backend servers, potentially gaining access to user credentials, transaction details, or other valuable information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may connect to public networks, increasing the attack surface and attack vector opportunities for malicious actors.
The security implications of CVE-2014-1967 align with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1041 for data compression and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory certificate pinning, enforcing strict certificate validation procedures, and deploying network monitoring tools to detect suspicious certificate exchanges. Additionally, the application should be updated to version 2.0.1 or later where proper SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms have been implemented, and security testing should include comprehensive certificate validation checks as part of the quality assurance process. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust cryptographic security practices in mobile applications and highlights the necessity of adhering to established security frameworks and industry standards for SSL/TLS implementation.