CVE-2014-6854 in EyeXam
Summary
by MITRE
The EyeXam (aka com.globaleyeventures.eyexam) application 1.4 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2024
The EyeXam Android application version 1.4 contains a critical security vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the integrity of its secure communications channel. This flaw represents a severe deviation from established security protocols and exposes users to significant risks during network interactions. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates creates an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to establish fraudulent connections with the application's backend services.
This vulnerability stems from improper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms within the application's networking stack. The application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the required verification steps that should confirm the certificate's authenticity, validity, and trust chain. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles for secure communications and represents a clear violation of the certificate validation process that is essential for maintaining secure network connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial and far-reaching, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user data. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to intercept, modify, or steal confidential information transmitted between the application and its servers. This includes potentially sensitive personal data, authentication credentials, and other proprietary information that users expect to remain protected during transmission.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols. The flaw also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1041, which covers data encryption for exfiltration, and T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing or similar means. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a pathway to bypass the security measures that should protect against these attack vectors.
Organizations and security practitioners should immediately implement mitigations that include updating the application to a version that properly validates SSL certificates, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior, and conducting thorough security assessments of similar applications within their environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.