CVE-2014-6730 in Melodigram
Summary
by MITRE
The Melodigram (aka com.minusdegree.melodigramandroid) application 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 • 09/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6730 represents a critical security flaw in the Melodigram Android application version 1.1, which operates under the package name com.minusdegree.melodigramandroid. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications, creating a significant attack surface that compromises the integrity of encrypted connections between the mobile client and remote servers. The flaw essentially disables the certificate verification mechanism that is fundamental to establishing secure communication channels in mobile applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a failure in the certificate chain validation process that should occur during SSL/TLS handshakes. When an Android application fails to verify server certificates, it essentially trusts any certificate presented by a server regardless of its legitimacy or authenticity. This vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attackers to exploit the trust relationship by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby allowing attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and backend services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete session hijacking capabilities for attackers. Mobile applications that communicate with servers using unverified SSL connections become susceptible to various attack vectors including credential theft, session manipulation, and data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects any sensitive information transmitted through the application, including user credentials, personal data, financial information, or proprietary business data that may be processed through the vulnerable communication channels. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to user accounts and maintain unauthorized presence within the application's ecosystem.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure communication practices that are fundamental to mobile application security frameworks. The flaw directly contradicts industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, specifically addressing the importance of proper certificate pinning and SSL validation in mobile applications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning mechanisms, proper certificate validation routines, and comprehensive security testing of all network communication components. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers network service scanning and reconnaissance activities that attackers can leverage to exploit such insecure communication channels.
Mitigation strategies should include implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms that verify certificate chains against trusted root authorities, establishing certificate pinning for critical endpoints, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other mobile applications. The application should be updated to enforce proper SSL/TLS certificate verification, ensuring that all connections are validated against established trust anchors before any sensitive data is transmitted or received. Additionally, developers should consider implementing additional security layers such as certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits to prevent similar issues from emerging in future application versions.