CVE-2014-6000 in FreshDirect
Summary
by MITRE
The FreshDirect (aka com.freshdirect.android) application 2.7.1 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 • 09/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6000 affects the FreshDirect mobile application version 2.7.1 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant security gap that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of the communication channel.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification when establishing secure connections to backend servers. This vulnerability specifically impacts the SSL/TLS handshake process where the Android application should verify that certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities and that the presented certificates match the expected server identity. Without this validation, the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, including those generated by malicious actors during man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw essentially disables the certificate pinning mechanism that should protect against certificate substitution attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers positioned within the network traffic path to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and its servers. An attacker can present a fraudulent certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to decrypt and modify sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and FreshDirect's servers. This includes personal information, payment details, and other confidential data that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core security infrastructure of the mobile application, undermining the fundamental security model that users rely upon when conducting transactions.
This vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform credential theft operations by intercepting authentication tokens and session information. The vulnerability also enables defense evasion techniques as it allows attackers to bypass standard security controls that would normally detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning enforcement, proper SSL certificate validation, and regular security audits of mobile applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.
The security implications extend beyond immediate data theft to include potential account takeover scenarios and long-term compromise of user identities. Mobile applications must implement robust certificate validation mechanisms that align with industry best practices and security standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code review processes to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.