CVE-2014-6655 in Tortoise Forum
Summary
by MITRE
The Tortoise Forum (aka org.tortoiseforum.android.forumrunner) application 3.5.16 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 • 09/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6655 affects the Tortoise Forum Android application version 3.5.16, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle threats. The flaw resides in the application's cryptographic implementation where it accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the essential certificate verification steps that are fundamental to secure communications. This behavior directly violates established security protocols and undermines the integrity of the encrypted communication channel between the mobile application and remote servers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the scope of CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic implementation that allows attackers to bypass security mechanisms designed to protect against unauthorized access. The application's failure to verify certificate chains, validate certificate authorities, or check certificate expiration dates creates a pathway for malicious actors to establish fraudulent SSL connections. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting a crafted certificate that appears legitimate to the application but is actually controlled by the attacker, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and the forum server. This vulnerability operates at the transport layer security level and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture that affects all SSL/TLS communications within the application.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6655 extends beyond simple data interception to encompass comprehensive session hijacking capabilities that can compromise user accounts and sensitive information. Mobile users accessing the Tortoise Forum application become vulnerable to attacks where attackers can establish fake server identities and capture login credentials, private messages, personal information, and other confidential data transmitted through the application. This vulnerability particularly affects users in public Wi-Fi environments or networks controlled by malicious actors, where the attack surface is maximized. The implications include potential account takeovers, data breaches, and exposure of personal information that could be used for identity theft or other malicious activities. The attack vector aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category for "Phishing" and T1571 for "Modify Authentication Process", as attackers can manipulate the authentication flow through certificate manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing robust certificate pinning techniques that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities, implementing certificate expiration checks, and ensuring that the application validates certificate signatures and subject names. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency measures and regularly updating their cryptographic libraries to address known vulnerabilities. The fix should include comprehensive testing of SSL/TLS connections to ensure that certificate validation failures are properly handled and that the application terminates connections when certificate validation fails. Security updates should be deployed immediately to all affected users, and the application should be redesigned to follow secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the severe consequences of inadequate security controls in client-server communications.