CVE-2014-6687 in wSaudichannelAlNas
Summary
by MITRE
The wSaudichannelAlNasr (aka com.wSaudichannelAlNasr) 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 • 09/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6687 resides within the wSaudichannelAlNasr Android application version 0.1, specifically targeting the application's cryptographic security implementation. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's secure communication protocol that directly undermines the integrity of data transmission between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability manifests in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS handshakes, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users. The absence of certificate verification means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper authentication, effectively disabling the fundamental security mechanisms designed to establish trust in secure communications. This weakness directly violates established security principles and creates a pathway for attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive user data transmitted through the application's network connections.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation processes within its Android framework. When the application attempts to establish secure connections with remote servers, it fails to perform the necessary certificate chain validation checks that should verify the certificate's authenticity, proper signing by trusted Certificate Authorities, and matching of the certificate's domain name with the server being accessed. This vulnerability maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses the improper certificate validation issue, and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic implementation in mobile applications. The flaw operates at the transport layer security level, where the application should enforce certificate pinning or at minimum proper certificate validation procedures but instead accepts all certificates indiscriminately. Attackers can exploit this by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application, thereby bypassing the security mechanisms intended to protect user data and maintain secure communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, creating a comprehensive security risk for users of the application and potentially exposing sensitive information to unauthorized parties. Mobile applications that fail to properly validate SSL certificates create persistent security gaps that can be exploited for various attack vectors including credential theft, financial data compromise, and privacy violations. The vulnerability particularly affects users who may be accessing banking, personal, or corporate information through the application, as attackers can exploit the lack of certificate verification to impersonate legitimate servers and capture user credentials, session tokens, or other sensitive data. This weakness also enables attackers to perform protocol downgrade attacks or inject malicious content into the application's communications, potentially leading to full system compromise if the application has elevated privileges or access to sensitive user data. The impact is amplified in environments where users may be connecting through untrusted networks such as public wi-fi, as the lack of certificate validation removes any protection against network-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms within the application's security framework. The recommended approach involves implementing strict certificate validation procedures that enforce certificate chain verification, proper certificate authority validation, and domain name matching to prevent the acceptance of forged certificates. Organizations should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that the application only accepts specific certificates or certificate authorities, thereby preventing attackers from using fraudulent certificates to impersonate legitimate servers. Security patches should be developed to enforce proper X.509 certificate validation, ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections undergo thorough verification before establishing trust. Additionally, the application should be updated to implement industry-standard security practices including regular security audits, proper cryptographic library usage, and adherence to secure coding guidelines. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to identify similar weaknesses in mobile applications. This remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which addresses social engineering through man-in-the-middle attacks, and addresses the broader category of credential access and defense evasion techniques that rely on network-based compromises. Organizations must also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and ensure that any future updates maintain proper cryptographic security implementations.