CVE-2014-6891 in Avantaj Cepte
Summary
by MITRE
The Vodafone Avantaj Cepte (aka com.vodafone.avantajcepte.main) 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6891 affects the Vodafone Avantaj Cepte mobile application version 1.4 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that undermines the fundamental security assurances typically provided by secure communication protocols. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is a critical component of the Transport Layer Security infrastructure designed to establish trust between client and server entities.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation within the application's SSL implementation, allowing attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the mobile application and remote servers. This weakness enables man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, effectively bypassing the security mechanisms that should protect sensitive data transmission. The application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or signature validation creates a pathway for attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted through the application's network connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of all communications within the application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access user credentials, personal information, financial data, and other sensitive content that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability affects any data transmitted through the application's network connections, including login credentials, personal details, and transactional information, making it particularly dangerous for financial or personal data handling applications. This flaw essentially renders the application's security measures ineffective, as users cannot trust that their communications remain private and authentic.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating the application to a version that properly implements certificate verification, deploying network-based security controls to detect and block suspicious certificate patterns, and conducting thorough security assessments of all mobile applications handling sensitive data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a clear violation of the principle of secure communication as outlined in industry security frameworks. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and data interception, as it enables adversaries to obtain sensitive information through compromised communication channels. The security community should treat this as a critical issue requiring immediate attention, as it directly undermines the trust model that secure mobile applications must maintain to protect user data and privacy.