CVE-2014-6892 in Shopping
Summary
by MITRE
The kalahari.com Shopping (aka com.kalahari.shop) application 1.4.2.1 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-2014-6892 represents a critical security flaw in the kalahari.com Shopping Android application version 1.4.2.1 that fundamentally undermines the application's ability to establish secure communication channels with remote servers. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS handshakes, creating a significant attack vector that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle threats. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system, specifically addressing the improper validation of certificate authorities. The application's failure to verify certificate chains means that it accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper authentication, effectively disabling the cryptographic security mechanisms that are essential for protecting sensitive user data during transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple certificate validation failures, as it creates an environment where attackers can seamlessly impersonate legitimate servers and intercept or manipulate communications between the mobile application and backend services. This flaw enables adversaries to execute sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to eavesdrop on sensitive transactions, capture user credentials, and potentially redirect users to malicious endpoints. The vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes the use of man-in-the-middle techniques to intercept network traffic, and represents a classic example of how mobile applications can be compromised through inadequate cryptographic implementation. The consequences are particularly severe for an e-commerce application like kalahari.com Shopping, as users may unknowingly transmit personal information, payment details, and other sensitive data through compromised communication channels.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the application's SSL/TLS stack handling where certificate verification routines are either completely omitted or improperly configured to accept all certificates without proper validation against trusted certificate authorities. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when developers prioritize application functionality over security considerations, or when they implement custom SSL handling code without proper cryptographic expertise. The absence of certificate pinning mechanisms further compounds the risk, as the application does not maintain a whitelist of trusted certificates or public keys that would provide additional protection against certificate substitution attacks. Organizations implementing similar security measures should reference industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and ensure proper implementation of certificate validation procedures as outlined in RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate handling. The remediation approach requires complete implementation of proper certificate validation, including certificate chain verification, trust anchor validation, and potentially implementation of certificate pinning to prevent the acceptance of unauthorized certificates, thereby addressing the core weakness that enables this vulnerability class.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during the development lifecycle. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture that could have been prevented through adherence to established security best practices and proper security code reviews. Mobile application developers must understand that SSL/TLS certificate validation is not optional but essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of user communications, particularly in applications handling sensitive personal and financial information. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder that security should be integrated into the development process from the beginning rather than treated as an afterthought, and that comprehensive testing including penetration testing and security code reviews should be mandatory for all applications that communicate over network connections.