CVE-2014-6791 in Angel Reigns
Summary
by MITRE
The Angel Reigns (aka com.conduit.app_dab60e7bd60d4f23a14b3fb7357f9dcd.app) application 1.2.6.185 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 • 09/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6791 affects the Angel Reigns Android application version 1.2.6.185, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue represents a failure in certificate validation mechanisms that fundamentally undermines the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers. The application's insecure handling of SSL/TLS connections creates an environment where malicious actors can exploit the lack of proper certificate verification to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users.
The technical flaw stems from the application's complete absence of X.509 certificate verification during SSL handshakes. This represents a direct violation of established cryptographic security practices and aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to perform essential certificate checks including issuer validation, expiration date verification, and certificate chain validation that are standard requirements for secure SSL/TLS implementations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively allowing them to masquerade as trusted servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, creating significant risks for user privacy and data integrity. When users interact with the application, their communications can be monitored, modified, or redirected by attackers who exploit the certificate verification gap. This opens the door to various attack vectors including credential theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation. The vulnerability particularly affects applications that handle sensitive user information, financial data, or personal identifiers, as attackers can exploit the trust relationship to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves the use of man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept and manipulate network communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The most effective approach involves implementing robust X.509 certificate verification that includes checking certificate authorities, validating certificate chains, and ensuring proper expiration date handling. Security patches should enforce certificate pinning where appropriate, and the application must be updated to validate certificate signatures against trusted root certificates. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits to prevent similar issues in future releases. The fix must align with industry standards and best practices for secure mobile application development, ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections properly validate server certificates before establishing trust relationships.