CVE-2014-6722 in Pescuit Crap Lite
Summary
by MITRE
The Pescuit Crap Lite (aka ro.aventurilapescui.pescuitcrap.lite) application 1.0 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 • 09/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6722 affects the Pescuit Crap Lite Android application version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw in certificate validation mechanisms. This application, designed for Android platforms, fails to properly implement X.509 certificate verification during SSL/TLS communications, creating a significant exposure in the mobile application security landscape. The flaw stems from improper certificate chain validation that allows the application to accept any certificate without proper authentication, fundamentally undermining the security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic implementation in mobile applications. The application's failure to validate SSL certificates creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept communications between the mobile application and remote servers. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to establish fake server connections and potentially access sensitive user data, session tokens, or other confidential information transmitted through the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of communications within the application. Mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels for user authentication, data synchronization, or transaction processing become particularly vulnerable when they fail to validate server certificates properly. This weakness enables attackers to perform session hijacking, data theft, and credential harvesting attacks, potentially affecting user privacy and application security. The vulnerability is especially concerning in applications that handle personal information, financial data, or authentication credentials, where the lack of certificate verification creates an open door for attackers to impersonate legitimate services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques that validate server certificates against known good certificates or public key fingerprints, rather than relying solely on default certificate validation. The application should enforce strict certificate chain validation, ensuring that certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities and that the certificate subject matches the expected server hostname. Additionally, implementing certificate revocation checking and maintaining up-to-date certificate stores helps prevent exploitation of compromised certificates. Security best practices recommend following the OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines for secure communication and implementing proper cryptographic libraries that enforce certificate validation as specified in the NIST SP 800-52 standard for certificate management. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and regularly audit their mobile applications for cryptographic security weaknesses.