CVE-2014-6023 in credit rating report
Summary
by MITRE
The s-peek credit rating report (aka com.rhomobile.speek) application 2.1.3 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 • 09/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6023 affects the s-peek credit rating report application version 2.1.3 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This issue falls under the broader category of insecure communication protocols and demonstrates a fundamental failure in implementing proper cryptographic security measures within mobile applications. The application's failure to validate X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise user data and system integrity.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from the application's inadequate implementation of certificate verification processes during SSL/TLS connections. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should validate the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the authenticity of the connection. The s-peek application bypasses this critical validation step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness directly violates established security protocols and represents a failure in the application's secure communication implementation, aligning with CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation."
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly in the context of financial applications that handle sensitive credit information. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, intercepting and modifying communications between the mobile application and its backend servers. This capability enables unauthorized access to credit rating data, personal financial information, and potentially sensitive user credentials. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently without alerting users to the compromised connection, making detection extremely difficult. According to ATT&CK framework category T1041, this represents a technique for "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" where attackers can establish unauthorized communication channels.
The security implications extend beyond immediate data theft to encompass potential identity theft, financial fraud, and compromise of corporate data assets. Mobile applications handling financial information are prime targets for cybercriminals, and this vulnerability eliminates the fundamental security layer that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide. The flaw demonstrates poor security hygiene and inadequate security testing during the application development lifecycle, as proper certificate validation should be implemented as a baseline security requirement. Organizations deploying such applications face significant liability risks and potential regulatory violations under data protection frameworks like GDPR or PCI DSS, which mandate proper cryptographic implementation and secure communication practices. The vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing proper certificate pinning and validation mechanisms in mobile applications, as recommended by industry best practices and security standards.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of proper X.509 certificate validation, certificate pinning, and regular security assessments of mobile applications. Developers must ensure that all SSL/TLS connections validate certificate chains against trusted authorities and implement additional security measures such as certificate stapling and secure key management practices. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in their mobile application portfolios. The remediation process should involve thorough code review, implementation of secure coding practices, and adherence to established security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and secure communication protocols.