CVE-2014-6711 in ABC Lounge Webradio
Summary
by MITRE
The ABC Lounge Webradio (aka com.nobexinc.wls_66087017.rc) application 3.3.10 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 CVE-2014-6711 vulnerability affects the ABC Lounge Webradio Android application version 3.3.10, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanism. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and improper certificate validation, which are fundamental security requirements for any application handling sensitive data over network connections. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers, creating a dangerous attack surface that compromises the integrity of secure communications.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from the application's complete absence of certificate chain validation and trust verification processes. When the Android application establishes SSL connections to remote servers, it does not perform the necessary checks to ensure that certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities, have valid expiration dates, or match the expected server names. This behavior directly violates established security protocols and standards, as demonstrated by the CWE-295 weakness classification which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation." The vulnerability creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can present forged certificates to intercept and manipulate communications between the application and legitimate servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely compromise the application's secure communication channels. An attacker positioned between the Android device and the SSL server can present a malicious certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to decrypt and modify sensitive information transmitted through the application. This includes potentially sensitive user data, authentication tokens, or any information that the application might be transmitting to remote servers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous for applications that handle user credentials, personal information, or financial data, as it undermines the fundamental security model that SSL/TLS is designed to provide.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure communication practices. The application's failure to implement proper certificate validation creates a persistent risk that remains active as long as the vulnerable version is installed on user devices. Organizations should immediately implement patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices are updated to versions that properly implement SSL certificate validation. The remediation approach should include mandatory certificate pinning implementation, where the application explicitly trusts specific certificate fingerprints rather than relying on the entire certificate chain validation process. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework guidance for mobile application security, specifically addressing techniques related to network sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks that leverage weak cryptographic implementations.