CVE-2014-6845 in MediaFire
Summary
by MITRE
The MediaFire (aka com.mediafire.android) application 1.1.1 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-2014-6845 represents a critical security flaw in the MediaFire Android application version 1.1.1, specifically targeting the application's SSL certificate verification mechanism. This weakness falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is a fundamental security control that should prevent unauthorized parties from establishing fraudulent secure connections. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks by allowing attackers to present malicious certificates that the application will accept without proper validation, creating a dangerous trust relationship between the user and potentially compromised servers.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to implement proper X.509 certificate chain validation during SSL/TLS handshakes. This omission creates a path for attackers to intercept communications between the Android client and MediaFire servers, effectively allowing them to masquerade as legitimate services. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in certificate validation and authentication, which directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The application essentially bypasses the entire certificate verification process, treating all certificates as valid regardless of their authenticity or trustworthiness, which is a fundamental violation of secure communication practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it compromises the integrity of the entire communication channel between the user's device and the MediaFire service. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive user information including personal files, account credentials, and potentially other data transmitted through the application. This vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on MediaFire for storing sensitive personal or business data, as the compromised connection allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to these resources. The risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects a widely used file sharing application, potentially exposing thousands of users to coordinated attacks.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and defense evasion. The ability to perform man-in-the-middle attacks enables attackers to harvest session tokens, login credentials, and other sensitive data without detection. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual certificate validation patterns and ensure that all applications properly validate SSL certificates. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of following industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, which emphasizes the need for proper certificate pinning and validation mechanisms in mobile applications to prevent such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application updates from MediaFire to implement proper certificate validation, along with certificate pinning mechanisms that prevent the acceptance of unauthorized certificates. Users should be advised to avoid using the vulnerable application until patches are available, and network administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in mobile applications and reinforces the need for comprehensive security testing including SSL/TLS implementation reviews. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection capabilities and monitoring for certificate anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts.