CVE-2014-6707 in LSAT Prep - Proctor
Summary
by MITRE
The 7Sage LSAT Prep - Proctor (aka com.sevensage.lsat) application 2.1.1 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-2014-6707 affects the 7Sage LSAT Prep - Proctor Android application version 2.1.1, representing a critical security flaw in the mobile application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that undermines the fundamental security guarantees of encrypted communications. The flaw specifically impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, leaving users vulnerable to sophisticated network-based attacks that exploit the absence of proper certificate verification mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation processes, which directly maps to CWE-295 - "Improper Certificate Validation." The application fails to perform essential certificate checks including hostname verification, certificate chain validation, and trust anchor verification that are critical components of secure communication protocols. When an Android application bypasses X.509 certificate validation, it essentially removes the cryptographic assurance that data transmitted between the client and server remains confidential and authentic. This weakness allows attackers to exploit the trust model by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby enabling unauthorized access to sensitive user data and communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates a comprehensive man-in-the-middle attack vector that can compromise user privacy and data integrity. Attackers can leverage this flaw to impersonate legitimate servers and gain access to sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, and potentially financial information if the application handles any form of payment processing or personal identification. The vulnerability affects the application's security posture by eliminating the cryptographic protection mechanisms that users expect when engaging with mobile applications, particularly those handling educational content and user personal information. This weakness is particularly concerning in educational applications where users may share personal information, test scores, or other sensitive academic data that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK techniques including T1041 - "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" and T1566 - "Phishing for Information", as the compromised application could facilitate both data exfiltration and user credential theft. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the application's secure coding practices and security architecture, as proper SSL/TLS implementation should include certificate pinning, certificate validation, and secure communication protocols. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning to prevent the use of unauthorized certificates, enhanced certificate validation routines, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in mobile applications. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid using the vulnerable application until patches are deployed, and security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their mobile application portfolios to identify similar certificate validation weaknesses.
The broader security implications highlight the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data. This vulnerability demonstrates that even seemingly simple applications can contain critical security flaws that expose users to significant risks. The remediation approach should include implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms, establishing secure communication protocols, and conducting regular security testing to prevent similar issues in future application releases. Organizations developing mobile applications must prioritize security in their development lifecycle, incorporating proper cryptographic practices and certificate validation from the initial design phases rather than addressing vulnerabilities after deployment.