CVE-2014-6907 in Rakuten Install
Summary
by MITRE
The Rakuten Install (aka co.jp.rakuten.installapp) application 1.5.0 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6907 affects the Rakuten Install application version 1.5.0 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 compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile application and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism, which operates outside the established security protocols designed to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. When an Android application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it should verify the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the authenticity of the communication endpoint. The Rakuten Install application bypasses this critical verification step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 by enabling network traffic interception. The operational impact of this flaw is substantial as it permits attackers to establish fraudulent secure connections, potentially capturing sensitive user data, session tokens, or financial information transmitted through the application. An attacker positioned within the network traffic path can exploit this weakness by generating a malicious certificate that mimics a legitimate server, thereby deceiving the application into believing it is communicating with a trusted endpoint.
The security implications extend beyond simple data interception, as this vulnerability undermines the fundamental trust model of secure mobile communications. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create an environment where sensitive information can be compromised without detection, particularly concerning financial transactions or personal data handling that the Rakuten application would typically process. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise user data at scale.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms within the application, ensuring that only specific trusted certificates or certificate authorities are accepted for secure connections. Security patches should enforce strict X.509 certificate validation procedures, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate chains, and implementing certificate revocation checking. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level security controls such as deep packet inspection to detect and prevent certificate-based attacks, while mobile device management solutions should enforce secure communication policies across all enterprise applications. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should verify that SSL/TLS implementations meet industry standards and best practices for secure mobile application development.