CVE-2014-6850 in SED Account
Summary
by MITRE
The SED Account (aka com.starkville.smartapps) application 1.153.0034 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-2014-6850 affects the SED Account application version 1.153.0034 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating an exploitable gap in the security architecture that directly violates fundamental principles of secure network communication. The vulnerability resides in the application's cryptographic implementation and certificate validation mechanisms, which are essential components for establishing trust in secure communications. This flaw represents a significant deviation from industry standards and best practices for mobile application security, particularly concerning the secure handling of network communications and certificate verification processes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols. The application's failure to verify SSL server certificates creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector that allows malicious actors to establish fraudulent connections with the application's servers. When an attacker successfully spoofs a legitimate server certificate, they can intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile application and backend services. This vulnerability essentially eliminates the cryptographic protection that SSL/TLS is designed to provide, rendering the application's network communications susceptible to eavesdropping and data manipulation. The flaw demonstrates poor implementation of certificate pinning or validation logic, where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper verification against trusted certificate authorities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive user information processed by the SED Account application. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain access to personal account details, authentication credentials, financial information, and other sensitive data that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected application version, creating a widespread security risk across the user base. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves network service scanning and exploitation of weak cryptographic implementations. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that mobile applications often handle highly sensitive personal and financial data, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking to maximize their operational gains.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from both application developers and security administrators. The primary remediation involves implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and implement certificate pinning where appropriate. Organizations should deploy certificate validation libraries that properly check certificate expiration dates, issuer information, and cryptographic strength. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following mobile security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, particularly regarding secure communication implementation and certificate management. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to ensure proper implementation of cryptographic security measures in mobile applications, preventing similar issues from arising in future versions of the software.