CVE-2014-6806 in Thanodi - Setswana Translator
Summary
by MITRE
The Thanodi - Setswana Translator (aka com.thanodi.thanodi) application 1.0.0 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 • 09/17/2024
The CVE-2014-6806 vulnerability affects the Thanodi Setswana Translator Android application version 1.0.0, representing a critical security flaw in certificate validation mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure cryptographic implementation as defined by CWE-310, specifically targeting the absence of proper SSL/TLS certificate verification. The application fails to validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during network communications, creating an exploitable weakness that undermines the fundamental security assurances of encrypted connections.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to implement proper certificate chain validation, certificate pinning, or hostname verification during SSL handshakes. When the application establishes network connections to remote servers, it accepts any certificate presented without verifying its authenticity through trusted certificate authorities. This allows malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the transport layer security validation, where the application should be enforcing cryptographic security measures to protect user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely compromise the confidentiality and integrity of communications between the mobile application and backend services. An attacker positioned between the device and server can intercept sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or other confidential information transmitted through the application. This vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain secure communication channels, potentially exposing users to identity theft, data breaches, and unauthorized access to their personal information. The risk is amplified in mobile environments where users may be accessing sensitive data over unsecured networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6806 should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms including certificate pinning, hostname verification, and trusted certificate authority validation. The application should be updated to verify certificate chains against a trusted root certificate store and implement hostname checking to ensure certificates match the intended server. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior and establish secure coding practices that adhere to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which involves phishing attacks through mobile applications, and represents a failure in the secure communication protocols that should be enforced by mobile application security frameworks.