CVE-2014-6857 in Car Wallpapers HD
Summary
by MITRE
The Car Wallpapers HD (aka com.arab4x4.gallery.app) application 1.3 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-2014-6857 affects the Car Wallpapers HD Android application version 1.3, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness resides in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating an exploitable condition that fundamentally undermines the security of data transmission between the mobile device and remote servers. The vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient certificate validation, which is a well-documented weakness in mobile application security and aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communication implementations.
The technical flaw manifests when the application establishes SSL connections to remote servers for downloading wallpapers or other content, as it fails to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification. This omission allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear to be from legitimate servers. The application accepts these forged certificates without proper verification, enabling attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the device and servers. The vulnerability represents a complete breakdown in the SSL/TLS security model, where the application essentially trusts any certificate presented without validating the certificate authority or the certificate's authenticity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's functionality and user experience. An attacker could present fake server certificates to deliver malicious content, redirect users to phishing sites, or establish persistent backdoors for data exfiltration. This weakness particularly affects user privacy and data integrity, as users may unknowingly transmit personal information, authentication credentials, or other sensitive data through compromised communication channels. The vulnerability is especially concerning in mobile environments where applications often handle personal data and communicate with various backend services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are trusted, thereby preventing attackers from using forged certificates. The application should validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates and implement proper hostname verification to ensure certificates match the intended server. Additionally, security frameworks such as those recommended by OWASP Mobile Security Project should be implemented to establish secure communication practices. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to mobile security standards, as the absence of proper certificate validation creates a fundamental security flaw that undermines the entire application's security posture and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service discovery and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering attacks.