CVE-2014-6817 in Cove
Summary
by MITRE
The Cove (aka org.covechurch.app) application 1.0.2 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 • 09/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6817 affects the Cove church application version 1.0.2 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that compromises the integrity of network communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly undermines the fundamental security principles of certificate-based authentication that are essential for establishing trust in secure communications.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms, specifically failing to perform certificate chain validation and trust verification processes that are standard requirements for secure mobile applications. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The absence of certificate verification means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity, trust chain, or validity period. This failure directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of insecure cryptographic implementation in mobile applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attackers to manipulate communications and potentially access sensitive user information. Mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels for user authentication, data synchronization, or transaction processing become particularly vulnerable when they fail to validate server certificates. In the context of a church application, this could expose user credentials, personal information, or potentially sensitive communications between church members and their organization. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the application is installed, with no user intervention required to exploit the flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6817 should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS communication stack. Security practitioners should ensure that the application performs comprehensive certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authorities, and implementing proper trust store management. The remediation process should include updating the application to properly validate X.509 certificates against trusted root certificates, implementing certificate pinning where appropriate, and ensuring that all network communications are properly secured using industry-standard cryptographic protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish proper incident response procedures to address potential breaches. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers network service scanning, and T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through social engineering, as the compromised application could facilitate both reconnaissance and data exfiltration activities.