CVE-2014-6656 in Drar-eym
Summary
by MITRE
The drareym (aka com.drareym) 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 • 09/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6656 affects the drareym Android application version 0.1, specifically targeting its implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental trust model of secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the trust relationship and compromise sensitive data exchanges. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted through the application, making it susceptible to various forms of cyber attacks that would otherwise be prevented by proper certificate validation.
The technical flaw stems from the application's inadequate handling of SSL certificate validation processes, where the software bypasses standard certificate verification procedures that should occur during secure connection establishment. When an Android application establishes an SSL connection, it should validate the server's certificate against trusted certificate authorities and verify that the certificate matches the expected hostname. In this case, the drareym application omits these crucial validation steps, allowing any certificate to be accepted regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This behavior aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a classic implementation error in cryptographic security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user data and system integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting a maliciously crafted certificate to intercept communications between the vulnerable application and its intended servers. This capability allows adversaries to eavesdrop on sensitive information exchanges, potentially capturing user credentials, personal data, financial information, or other confidential communications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users often conduct sensitive transactions or access private information through applications that may not properly validate their secure connections. According to ATT&CK framework category T1566, this vulnerability enables initial access through credential harvesting and data interception techniques that compromise the security posture of affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from both application developers and security administrators. The primary remediation involves implementing proper SSL certificate validation within the application's network communication stack, ensuring that all X.509 certificates are verified against trusted certificate authorities and that hostname validation is performed during SSL handshake processes. Developers should utilize Android's built-in certificate pinning mechanisms or implement custom validation logic that adheres to industry best practices for secure communication. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of mobile applications within their environments and ensure that all applications implement proper certificate validation before allowing them to process sensitive data. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous certificate behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following OWASP Mobile Top 10 guidelines for secure mobile application development and emphasizes the need for regular security testing and code reviews to identify similar implementation flaws in mobile security controls.