CVE-2014-6822 in Nerdico
Summary
by MITRE
The Nerdico (aka com.nerdico.danielepais) application 1.9 Stable 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-2014-6822 affects the Nerdico Android application version 1.9 Stable, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by secure communication protocols.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's improper handling of SSL certificate verification processes, where the software accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary validation checks that should confirm the certificate's authenticity and trustworthiness. This behavior directly violates established security protocols and industry standards, as the application fails to implement proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms that are essential for maintaining secure communications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communication implementations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to severe man-in-the-middle attack risks where malicious actors can intercept communications between the application and legitimate servers. Attackers can create fraudulent certificates that appear valid to the application, allowing them to decrypt and potentially modify sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and backend services. This compromise can result in unauthorized access to personal information, financial data, or other confidential assets that the application handles during normal operation.
The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as this vulnerability can enable attackers to establish persistent surveillance capabilities and potentially compromise the entire user session. The lack of certificate verification means that even if legitimate servers implement proper security measures, the application's weak validation process creates an exploitable weakness that undermines the security posture of the entire communication chain. This vulnerability particularly affects applications handling sensitive user data, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit mobile application security gaps.
Organizations and developers should implement comprehensive certificate validation mechanisms that include proper certificate pinning, regular certificate updates, and robust validation routines that check certificate authorities, expiration dates, and certificate chains. The implementation should follow established security frameworks and guidelines to ensure that all SSL/TLS connections maintain proper authentication and data integrity. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in mobile applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing proper cryptographic security measures in mobile applications, as outlined in various security standards including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework's network security protocols category.