CVE-2014-3908 in Kindle App
Summary
by MITRE
The Amazon.com Kindle application before 4.5.0 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 • 07/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3908 represents a critical security flaw in the Amazon Kindle application for Android devices prior to version 4.5.0. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors. The flaw essentially disables the certificate verification mechanism that is fundamental to secure communications over the internet, leaving users exposed to various forms of cryptographic attacks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper certificate chain validation within the Kindle application's SSL implementation. When mobile applications establish secure connections to remote servers, they typically perform X.509 certificate verification to ensure that they are communicating with the legitimate server and not an attacker posing as that server. The Kindle application's failure to perform this crucial step means that attackers can present fraudulent certificates that appear valid to the application, effectively bypassing the security measures designed to protect user data.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. The operational impact of this flaw is substantial as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept and potentially modify communications between the Kindle application and Amazon's servers. This creates opportunities for attackers to steal user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data that flows through the compromised application.
The security implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential account takeovers, session hijacking, and the ability to inject malicious content into the user's reading experience. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious websites, inject advertisements, or even deliver malware through the compromised application. The vulnerability affects all users running Kindle versions before 4.5.0, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of the application across various Android devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to Kindle version 4.5.0 or later, which implements proper certificate verification mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate certificate validation bypass attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping applications updated and should avoid using untrusted networks when accessing sensitive applications like Kindle. The fix implemented by Amazon likely involved strengthening the SSL/TLS certificate validation process to ensure that all X.509 certificates presented by servers are properly verified against trusted certificate authorities, thereby restoring the intended security protections for user communications.