CVE-2014-6839 in Alma Corinthiana
Summary
by MITRE
The Alma Corinthiana (aka com.alma.corinthiana) application 1.0 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 • 09/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6839 resides within the Alma Corinthiana Android application version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant weakness in the application's security posture that directly undermines the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and remote servers.
The technical flaw stems from the application's complete absence of certificate verification mechanisms, which is a fundamental security control that should be implemented in all SSL/TLS communications. When an application fails to verify X.509 certificates, it essentially removes the cryptographic assurance that the server presenting the certificate is legitimate and authorized to represent the intended service. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of weak cryptography implementation where the application accepts any certificate without proper validation against trusted certificate authorities or certificate pinning mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can completely compromise the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between the mobile application and its backend services. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby gaining the ability to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and any other data transmitted through the application's secure channels. This vulnerability affects the core security principles of authentication, confidentiality, and data integrity as defined by the CIA triad.
The implications extend beyond simple data theft, as this vulnerability can be leveraged to create persistent access points for attackers to maintain long-term presence within affected systems. Mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels for user authentication, data synchronization, or transaction processing become particularly vulnerable to exploitation. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication since the vulnerability exists in the application's core SSL/TLS handling rather than requiring complex exploitation techniques. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers with limited technical expertise while still providing substantial access to sensitive information.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning to prevent the acceptance of unauthorized certificates, proper implementation of certificate validation routines, and regular security assessments of mobile applications. The solution involves configuring the application to validate certificates against a trusted certificate authority or implementing certificate pinning where specific certificate fingerprints are hardcoded into the application. Additionally, developers should follow secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and implement proper SSL/TLS certificate validation as recommended by NIST guidelines. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of mobile application security testing and adherence to industry standards such as those defined by the Mobile Application Security Testing Guide to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.