CVE-2014-6903 in Gulf Power Mobile Bill Pay
Summary
by MITRE
The Gulf Power Mobile Bill Pay (aka com.tionetworks.gulf) application 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 • 09/22/2024
The Gulf Power Mobile Bill Pay application for android presents a critical security vulnerability through its improper handling of SSL certificate verification mechanisms. This flaw exists within the application's implementation of secure communication protocols, specifically in how it processes X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate certificate chains and cryptographic signatures that are essential for establishing trust between the mobile client and remote servers. This weakness creates a dangerous attack surface that directly contradicts fundamental security principles of secure communications and authentication.
The technical implementation flaw manifests as the application's complete omission of certificate validation procedures that should occur during the SSL handshake process. When establishing secure connections to backend servers, the application bypasses critical verification steps that would normally confirm the certificate's authenticity through trusted certificate authorities, validate certificate expiration dates, and ensure proper domain matching. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and improper certificate validation as classified by CWE-295, which specifically addresses the failure to validate certificates. The absence of these security controls means that attackers can present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively undermining the entire SSL/TLS security framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risks for both end users and the organization operating the mobile application. Attackers exploiting this weakness can perform man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting communications between the mobile device and the application's servers, allowing them to eavesdrop on sensitive data exchanges. The compromised system enables attackers to obtain confidential information including user credentials, payment details, personal identification numbers, and financial transaction data. This vulnerability directly enables data theft and financial fraud scenarios that could affect thousands of users. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates at the transport layer security level, making it difficult for users to detect unauthorized access attempts. This weakness creates an environment where attackers can seamlessly impersonate legitimate servers without raising alarms.
The security implications extend beyond immediate data theft to encompass broader system compromise and regulatory compliance violations. Organizations deploying applications with this vulnerability face potential regulatory penalties under frameworks such as pci dss, hipaa, and gdpr, which mandate proper encryption and authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including initial access through network infiltration and credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks. Security professionals should note that this represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices and application security architecture. Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of proper certificate validation routines, certificate pinning mechanisms, and comprehensive security testing of all SSL/TLS implementations. Organizations must also consider the broader security posture implications and implement continuous monitoring for similar vulnerabilities across their mobile application portfolio. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of adhering to established security standards and conducting thorough security assessments before deploying mobile applications that handle sensitive user data.