CVE-2014-6748 in HVAC Assist
Summary
by MITRE
The GEMAIRE s HVAC Assist (aka com.es.Gemaire) application 5.0 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 • 09/15/2024
The CVE-2014-6748 vulnerability affects the GEMAIRE s HVAC Assist Android application version 5.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The flaw specifically manifests in the application's inability to verify the authenticity of SSL servers, which directly violates fundamental security principles of certificate-based authentication. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability places the application at risk of man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can establish fraudulent connections with users while appearing to be legitimate servers. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that the application likely handles sensitive operational data related to HVAC systems, potentially exposing building management information, user access credentials, or system configuration details.
The technical implementation flaw in this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The application's failure to verify X.509 certificates represents a complete breakdown in the certificate chain validation process, allowing attackers to present forged certificates that the application will accept without proper scrutiny. This vulnerability directly enables the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1041, where adversaries exploit weak SSL/TLS implementations to intercept and manipulate communications. The absence of certificate pinning or proper validation mechanisms means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its legitimacy or trustworthiness. The flaw essentially removes the cryptographic security guarantees that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, leaving users vulnerable to various forms of network-based attacks including credential theft, data exfiltration, and system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as the HVAC management application likely handles sensitive building operational data that could be exploited for physical security breaches or system manipulation. Attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to HVAC system controls, modify operational parameters, or extract information about building security systems. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain confidential and authentic communications, directly violating the CIA triad principles of information security. From an enterprise security standpoint, this flaw could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within building management systems, potentially leading to broader network compromise or physical security breaches. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with basic networking knowledge to conduct reconnaissance and establish footholds within organizations that rely on the affected application for building automation and control.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6748 should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS implementation. Security patches should enforce strict certificate chain validation, implement certificate pinning where appropriate, and ensure that all X.509 certificates are properly verified against trusted certificate authorities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process must address the root cause by ensuring that the application validates certificate signatures, checks certificate expiration dates, and verifies certificate subject names against expected server identities. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other applications within their environment that may exhibit similar certificate validation flaws, as this type of vulnerability is commonly found in mobile applications that fail to properly implement secure communication protocols. The fix should align with industry best practices for secure mobile application development and should be validated through thorough security testing to ensure that certificate validation functions operate correctly under various network conditions and attack scenarios.