CVE-2014-4904 in Calendar
Summary
by MITRE
The Crossmo Calendar (aka com.crossmo.calendar) application 1.7.1 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 • 08/23/2024
The Crossmo Calendar application version 1.7.1 for Android presents a critical security vulnerability related to SSL certificate verification that fundamentally compromises the integrity of secure communications. This flaw exists within the application's implementation of Transport Layer Security protocols, specifically failing to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during connection establishment. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to perform certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and signature validation processes that are essential components of secure SSL/TLS communication. This represents a direct violation of standard security practices and creates an exploitable gap in the application's security architecture.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and specifically manifests as a failure in certificate pinning or validation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness through man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The application's inability to verify certificate authenticity means that sensitive user data, including calendar entries, personal information, and potentially authentication credentials, could be intercepted or modified during transmission. This vulnerability particularly affects communications between the mobile application and backend servers, where calendar data synchronization occurs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential data manipulation and unauthorized access to user calendars. Mobile users who rely on Crossmo Calendar for personal or professional scheduling may unknowingly expose their sensitive calendar information to attackers who can establish fraudulent connections with the application's servers. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates persistent security risks for any calendar data stored or transmitted through the affected system. This weakness undermines the fundamental security assurances that users expect from mobile applications handling personal information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application updates from the vendor to implement proper SSL certificate verification mechanisms, including certificate pinning and hostname validation. Security professionals should consider network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior and implement additional authentication measures such as two-factor authentication for calendar access. Organizations using this application should conduct security assessments to identify potential data exposure and implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential certificate-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper SSL implementation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder of the necessity for robust certificate validation processes in all secure communication implementations.