CVE-2014-6810 in RIMS 2014 Annual Conference
Summary
by MITRE
The RIMS 2014 Annual Conference (aka com.coreapps.android.followme.rims2014) application 6.0.7.4 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6810 affects the RIMS 2014 Annual Conference Android application version 6.0.7.4, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant pathway for malicious actors to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure network communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification when establishing secure connections. This weakness allows attackers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate validation mechanisms means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This failure directly violates fundamental security principles of the Transport Layer Security protocol and exposes users to potential data interception and manipulation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for both end users and the organizations they represent. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept sensitive information transmitted through the application, potentially gaining access to personal data, confidential communications, or proprietary information shared during the conference. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as the vulnerability enables attackers to modify communications in transit, potentially altering conference schedules, speaker information, or other critical data. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in a conference application context where users may be accessing sensitive business or personal information while connecting to potentially untrusted networks.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1041 for data compression and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations using this application face significant risk of data breaches and reputation damage, particularly when users access the application from public Wi-Fi networks or other untrusted environments. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be security-aware.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application updates that implement proper certificate validation and certificate pinning mechanisms. Security teams should also consider network-level protections such as SSL inspection and monitoring for suspicious certificate behavior. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromises and establish secure communication policies that require certificate validation for all applications accessing sensitive data. Additionally, user education regarding secure network practices and the importance of avoiding untrusted networks when accessing conference applications should be emphasized as part of a comprehensive security approach. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the need for continuous security testing and validation of security controls.