CVE-2014-6841 in RTI INDIA
Summary
by MITRE
The RTI INDIA (aka com.vbulletin.build_890) application 3.8.21 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 • 09/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6841 affects the RTI INDIA mobile application version 3.8.21 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly implement X.509 certificate verification during secure communication sessions, creating an exploitable gap in the mobile application's security architecture. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's ability to authenticate legitimate SSL servers, leaving users exposed to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attack vectors that can compromise sensitive data transmission.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate pinning or validation checks within the application's network communication layer. When the RTI INDIA application establishes connections to remote servers using SSL/TLS protocols, it fails to verify the authenticity of server certificates against trusted certificate authorities. This deficiency allows attackers to deploy malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile device and target servers. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security implementation level, where proper certificate validation should occur but does not.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability creates significant risk for users of the RTI INDIA application, particularly when accessing sensitive government-related information or submitting personal data through the mobile platform. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and gain unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data. The impact extends beyond individual privacy concerns to potential national security implications given the nature of RTI applications and the type of information typically handled. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of secure communication and data protection, creating an attack surface that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including credential theft, data exfiltration, and surveillance operations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of insufficient certificate validation in mobile applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to techniques involving network sniffing, man-in-the-middle attacks, and credential access through compromised network communications. The lack of proper certificate verification creates an opportunity for adversaries to establish persistent surveillance capabilities and access sensitive data without detection. Organizations should implement certificate pinning mechanisms, enforce strict certificate validation procedures, and conduct regular security assessments to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments. Additionally, developers must ensure that all network communication in mobile applications properly validates SSL/TLS certificates against established trust chains and implement robust security controls to protect against these types of attacks.