CVE-2014-6691 in UC Browser HD
Summary
by MITRE
The UC Browser HD (aka com.uc.browser.hd) application 3.3.1.469 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-2014-6691 affects the UC Browser HD application version 3.3.1.469 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should establish trust between the mobile browser and remote web servers, fundamentally undermining the security model designed to protect users from malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation procedures within the application's SSL implementation, allowing the browser to accept any certificate presented by a server regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This deficiency enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by generating and presenting fraudulent certificates that appear to be from legitimate websites. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-295 category of "Improper Certificate Validation" which specifically addresses weaknesses in how applications validate SSL/TLS certificates, making this a well-documented and serious security concern. Attackers can leverage this flaw to intercept encrypted communications, steal session cookies, capture login credentials, and access sensitive personal or financial information transmitted through the vulnerable browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that secure web communications rely upon. Mobile users who rely on UC Browser HD for internet access become vulnerable to sophisticated attacks where adversaries can seamlessly impersonate legitimate banking, e-commerce, or corporate websites. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise, as the flaw exists in the application's default behavior without requiring any special conditions or user interaction beyond normal browsing activities. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be security-aware, potentially leading to widespread compromise of personal data, financial information, and corporate secrets. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that manipulate users into trusting malicious websites, and T1041 which covers data compression techniques used in data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves updating to a newer version of the UC Browser HD application that implements proper certificate validation procedures, including certificate chain verification, hostname checking, and revocation status validation. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior and consider deploying additional security controls such as DNS filtering and SSL inspection solutions to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks. Users should be educated about the risks of browsing on untrusted networks and encouraged to use browsers with established security track records. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing certificate pinning techniques and maintaining updated trust stores to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in other applications. Security professionals should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify applications with similar certificate validation flaws and ensure that mobile security policies include proper certificate validation requirements for all browser implementations.