CVE-2014-6880 in TradeHero
Summary
by MITRE
The TradeHero (aka com.tradehero.th) application 2.2.5 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 • 09/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6880 resides within the TradeHero mobile application version 2.2.5 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security model that users expect when transmitting sensitive information over network connections.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate verification mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation, specifically violating the fundamental principles of secure communication as defined by industry standards. This omission allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without proper validation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic case of weak cryptographic implementation where the application fails to perform essential certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor checking. The application's reliance on insecure SSL connections creates an environment where attackers can intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile client and backend servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass comprehensive compromise of user privacy and financial security within the application ecosystem. Attackers exploiting this weakness can gain access to user credentials, personal information, transaction details, and other sensitive data that flows through the vulnerable application's network connections. This vulnerability particularly affects applications handling financial transactions or personal identifiable information, as demonstrated by the TradeHero application's nature as a gaming platform potentially processing user accounts and virtual currency transactions. The attack vector enables passive monitoring of network traffic and active interference with communications, making it particularly dangerous in public network environments where users may be exposed to opportunistic attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS stack. Organizations should enforce certificate pinning to prevent acceptance of unauthorized certificates, implement proper hostname verification procedures, and ensure that all SSL connections undergo rigorous certificate chain validation against trusted certificate authorities. The solution must address the underlying cryptographic implementation by incorporating industry-standard security libraries and ensuring that all network communications validate certificate authenticity through proper certificate chain building and trust verification processes. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits of their SSL/TLS implementations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application. This remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which focuses on network service scanning, and emphasizes the critical need for secure communication protocols in mobile application security.