CVE-2014-6698 in Galaxy Online 2
Summary
by MITRE
The Galaxy Online 2 (aka air.com.igg.galaxyAPhone) application 1.2.3 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 described in CVE-2014-6698 represents a critical security flaw in the Galaxy Online 2 mobile application for Android platforms. This application, identified by the package name air.com.igg.galaxyAPhone, was found to implement insecure SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms that leave users exposed to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw specifically affects version 1.2.3 of the application and demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's cryptographic security implementation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the application's complete absence of X.509 certificate validation during SSL/TLS connections. This represents a classic implementation of CWE-295, which focuses on improper certificate validation in secure communication protocols. The application fails to perform essential certificate checks including hostname verification, certificate chain validation, and trust anchor verification. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting a maliciously crafted certificate that appears legitimate to the application, thereby bypassing the security mechanisms designed to protect user data transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates a complete trust relationship breakdown between the mobile application and its remote servers. An attacker positioned in the network path between the user's device and the application server can seamlessly impersonate legitimate services, enabling them to capture sensitive user information including login credentials, personal data, and potentially financial information. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes data compression and encryption for exfiltration, as the compromised application becomes an effective conduit for unauthorized data collection. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to even moderately skilled attackers.
The implications of this vulnerability are severe for both individual users and the application developers, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels. Users connecting to the Galaxy Online 2 application over untrusted networks face immediate risk of credential theft and data compromise. The vulnerability also exposes the application to potential abuse for further attacks including session hijacking, account takeover, and the delivery of malicious payloads. From a compliance perspective, this flaw would likely violate standards such as PCI DSS and GDPR requirements for secure data transmission, as the application fails to implement basic cryptographic security measures that are mandatory for protecting sensitive information in transit. Organizations should immediately implement certificate pinning mechanisms, update to versions with proper SSL validation, and conduct comprehensive security audits of their mobile applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their software ecosystems.