CVE-2014-6637 in Facebook Facts
Summary
by MITRE
The Facebook Facts (aka com.wFacebookFacts) 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 • 09/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6637 affects the Facebook Facts Android application version 0.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during network connections, creating a significant exposure that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process within the application's network stack, where it fails to perform proper X.509 certificate validation against trusted certificate authorities.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the application's network security architecture, where it accepts any SSL certificate without performing the necessary cryptographic verification steps required to establish trust. This weakness allows attackers to intercept communications between the Android application and remote servers by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The certificate verification process should validate the certificate's authenticity through chain of trust verification, signature validation, and expiration date checks, but the Facebook Facts application bypasses these essential security controls. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's security implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain personal data, session tokens, and other confidential information transmitted through the application's network connections. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected Android application version, creating a widespread security exposure that could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and privacy violations. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication, as the malicious certificate can be generated using standard cryptographic tools and presented to the vulnerable application without requiring special privileges or complex attack infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network security layer. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to perform complete X.509 certificate chain validation, including signature verification against trusted root certificates and proper expiration date checks. Security patches should enforce certificate pinning where possible, ensuring that the application only accepts certificates from specific trusted authorities. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits of network communications can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in future application versions. This remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through man-in-the-middle attacks, and addresses the fundamental security principle of establishing trust through proper cryptographic verification processes. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures for handling certificate-related security incidents.