CVE-2014-6702 in International
Summary
by MITRE
The StarSat International (aka com.conduit.app_b15a1814d2d840198e70e3c235af5e8b.app) application 1.41.54.9222 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6702 represents a critical security flaw in the StarSat International Android application developed by Conduit. This application version 1.41.54.9222 fails to implement proper SSL certificate verification mechanisms, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw specifically affects the application's handling of X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications, which is a fundamental security control for establishing trust between client and server components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to validate SSL certificates against trusted certificate authorities. This weakness allows attackers to present maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile device and backend servers. The absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate chain validation means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for establishing covert channels through unencrypted or improperly validated communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive attack vectors including credential theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and gain access to sensitive user information, including personal data, login credentials, and potentially financial information. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates a persistent threat vector since the flaw exists in the client-side implementation rather than requiring user interaction to exploit. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users may be accessing sensitive applications or services through potentially compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning to ensure that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are accepted, and should validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates. The application should also implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures, ensuring that any certificate validation issues result in immediate connection termination rather than proceeding with unverified communications. Security updates should be deployed immediately to address this vulnerability, and organizations should consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This remediation aligns with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST SP 800-53 security controls for secure communication protocols.