CVE-2014-6692 in Kingsoft Clip (Office Tool)
Summary
by MITRE
The Kingsoft Clip (Office Tool) (aka cn.wps.clip) application 1.5.1 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-2014-6692 affects the Kingsoft Clip application version 1.5.1 for Android operating systems, representing a critical security flaw in the application's certificate validation mechanisms. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, making it a direct descendant of well-known certificate trust issues in cryptographic implementations.
The technical flaw manifests when the Kingsoft Clip application establishes secure connections to remote servers, as it fails to validate the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by these servers. This omission allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The certificate verification process typically involves checking certificate signatures against trusted Certificate Authority roots, validating certificate expiration dates, and ensuring proper certificate chains. However, the application bypasses these essential validation steps, leaving users exposed to potential data interception and theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly for users who rely on the application for sensitive operations involving document processing and office tools. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept communications between the application and its servers, potentially gaining access to confidential documents, user credentials, or other sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of data transmission, undermining the fundamental security assumptions that users expect from secure mobile applications. This flaw is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where sensitive business documents may be processed through the application, potentially leading to intellectual property theft or corporate espionage.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and data interception, specifically leveraging the T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing with Malicious Attachments tactics. The vulnerability enables adversaries to establish persistent access points through certificate spoofing, potentially allowing for extended surveillance of user activities. Security professionals should consider this issue when evaluating mobile application security, as it represents a failure in the application's trust model that can be exploited across various attack vectors. The vulnerability also aligns with the principle of least privilege violation, as users unknowingly grant applications access to potentially compromised communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application updates from the vendor, which would involve implementing proper certificate validation procedures and ensuring all SSL connections undergo rigorous verification processes. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish secure communication protocols that enforce certificate pinning where possible. Users should be educated about the risks of using vulnerable applications and encouraged to update to patched versions immediately. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network segmentation and traffic inspection measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive data, and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the application development lifecycle.