CVE-2014-4884 in Conrad Hotel
Summary
by MITRE
The Conrad Hotel (aka com.wConradHotel) application 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 • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4884 affects the Conrad Hotel Android application version 0.1, representing a critical security flaw in the mobile application's implementation of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The flaw resides in the application's cryptographic implementation and represents a fundamental failure in secure communication protocols.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in SSL/TLS implementations. The application's inability to verify server certificates means that it accepts any certificate presented by an attacker, regardless of its authenticity or validity. This weakness enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can establish fraudulent SSL connections between users and legitimate servers, effectively breaking the encryption layer that should protect sensitive data transmission. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate verification process during SSL handshakes, where the application fails to perform proper certificate chain validation, hostname checking, or signature verification.
Operationally, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including credential theft, session hijacking, and data interception. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on communications, steal personal information, financial data, or other sensitive details transmitted through the application. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy to potentially compromise corporate networks and sensitive business information that users might access through this mobile application. Given that the application is designed for hotel services, it likely handles personal guest information, payment details, and other confidential data that could be targeted by threat actors.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. The lack of certificate validation creates an environment where attackers can establish trusted connections with users while simultaneously compromising the integrity of the communication channel. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating the application to properly validate SSL certificates, implementing certificate pinning mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of mobile applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST guidelines for mobile application security, particularly in the area of secure communication implementation and certificate management.