CVE-2014-6012 in Gravity Bounce
Summary
by MITRE
The Gravity Bounce (aka net.toddm.gb) application 1.1 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 Gravity Bounce Android application version 1.1 contains a critical security vulnerability related to SSL certificate verification that fundamentally compromises the integrity of secure communications. This flaw represents a classic example of improper certificate validation, where the application fails to properly authenticate the identity of SSL servers it connects to during network operations. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper certificate chain validation, allowing malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship between client and server. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this weakness maps to CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications. The vulnerability exists at the application layer where cryptographic security controls should be enforcing strict certificate verification protocols.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when the application establishes SSL connections to remote servers without validating the X.509 certificates presented by those servers. This omission creates a trust boundary breach that enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept communications and present fraudulent certificates to the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the fundamental security mechanism that should protect against eavesdropping and data tampering. Attackers can exploit this weakness by setting up malicious servers that present forged certificates, allowing them to decrypt and manipulate communications between the vulnerable application and legitimate servers. The attack vector operates through the network stack where the application's SSL/TLS implementation bypasses certificate validation checks that should occur during the handshake process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete session hijacking capabilities and potential privilege escalation within the application's attack surface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can obtain sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and potentially financial information depending on the application's functionality. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the application is updated or the underlying flaw is patched. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 category for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting. The vulnerability essentially removes the application's ability to distinguish between legitimate and malicious servers, creating an open door for various attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS communication stack. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of the Gravity Bounce application where certificate verification has been properly implemented. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates, implement certificate pinning where appropriate, and ensure that all SSL connections enforce strict certificate validation. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual certificate behavior and establish certificate management policies that include regular certificate rotation and validation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of cryptographic best practices and proper implementation of security controls as outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and OWASP mobile security project guidelines for secure mobile application development.