CVE-2014-6912 in IRA's 59th Annual Conference
Summary
by MITRE
The IRA s 59th Annual Conference (aka com.coreapps.android.followme.ira_14) application 6.0.7.6 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-2014-6912 affects the IRA s 59th Annual Conference Android application version 6.0.7.6, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant weakness in the secure communication channel between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that would be accepted as legitimate by the application. This weakness directly violates established security protocols and standards, as the application fails to implement the required certificate pinning or validation mechanisms that are essential for maintaining secure communication channels. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and backend services, potentially accessing sensitive user information, authentication credentials, or proprietary data transmitted through the insecure connection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it exposes users to various security risks including data interception, credential theft, and unauthorized access to confidential information. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially impersonate legitimate servers and gain access to sensitive user data, session tokens, or other critical information transmitted through the application's communication channels. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates a persistent security risk that remains active until the underlying code is patched and updated. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous in mobile applications where users may be accessing sensitive information over public networks, making the attack surface more expansive.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest application version that addresses this certificate validation issue, implementing certificate pinning mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of mobile applications. 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 NIST SP 800-52. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566, specifically the technique of "Phishing with Malicious Attachment," where the insecure certificate validation enables attackers to establish malicious communication channels. The remediation process should involve implementing proper certificate validation routines, utilizing trusted certificate authorities, and ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough certificate chain verification before establishing secure communications.