CVE-2014-6906 in Loli Chocolate Cake
Summary
by MITRE
The Loli Chocolate Cake (aka com.alison.kang.chocolatecake) application 1.0.0 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6906 affects the Loli Chocolate Cake Android application version 1.0.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with legitimate servers while simultaneously enabling malicious actors to exploit the weak certificate validation mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification processes, which falls under the category of weak cryptographic implementation as classified by CWE-310. The application fails to perform essential certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and signature validation checks that are fundamental requirements for establishing secure communications. This flaw allows attackers to present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively bypassing the security mechanisms designed to protect against unauthorized access and data interception. The absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate trust verification creates a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the application and servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it exposes users to potential data breaches, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Mobile applications that rely on secure communications for user authentication, financial transactions, or personal data handling become particularly vulnerable when they fail to validate server certificates properly. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate services, capture user credentials, access private data, or inject malicious content into the application's communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the application handles sensitive user information, financial data, or corporate resources, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that users expect from secure mobile applications.
Organizations and developers should implement comprehensive mitigations to address this vulnerability, including immediate code modifications to enforce proper SSL/TLS certificate validation procedures. The recommended approach involves implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms that include certificate chain building, hostname verification, and signature validation checks as specified in industry standards such as RFC 5280 and RFC 6125. Security measures should also include certificate pinning implementations, where the application explicitly trusts specific certificates or certificate authorities rather than relying on the system's default trust store. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate revocation checking and regularly updating their security protocols to align with current best practices and threat landscape assessments. The mitigation strategies should align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and defense evasion, ensuring that the application maintains secure communication channels against sophisticated attack vectors that target mobile application security weaknesses.