CVE-2014-6917 in www.knote.kr Smart
Summary
by MITRE
The www.knote.kr Smart (aka kr.or.knote.android) application 1.0.3 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-2014-6917 affects the www.knote.kr Smart Android application version 1.0.3, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate verification process. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to exploit the application's trust model and compromise user data integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's inability to authenticate server identities through proper certificate chain validation, which is fundamental to establishing secure communication channels in mobile applications.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the application's network security configuration where SSL certificate validation is either completely disabled or improperly implemented. This allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The certificate verification process typically involves checking the certificate's validity period, ensuring it was issued by a trusted Certificate Authority, verifying the certificate's signature, and confirming that the certificate's subject matches the expected server identity. When these checks are bypassed or omitted, the application becomes susceptible to various attack vectors that can compromise sensitive user information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a direct violation of secure communication best practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass comprehensive privacy and security breaches. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on communications between users and servers, potentially accessing personal information, authentication credentials, and sensitive transactions conducted through the application. The vulnerability particularly affects users who rely on the application for accessing confidential information or performing secure operations, as the lack of certificate verification removes the cryptographic assurance that data remains private and authentic. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate data in transit, inject malicious content, and potentially redirect users to fraudulent services while maintaining the appearance of legitimate communication. The vulnerability also undermines user trust in the application's security posture and can result in regulatory compliance issues for organizations that fail to maintain proper security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6917 must focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network stack. Organizations should ensure that all SSL connections utilize certificate pinning techniques, where specific certificate fingerprints or public keys are hardcoded within the application to verify against server certificates. Implementing certificate validation libraries that properly enforce certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying Certificate Authority trust, and ensuring proper hostname matching, will address the core vulnerability. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits of their network communication implementations. The remediation process should also include updating the application to properly validate certificates against trusted root CA stores and implementing proper error handling for certificate validation failures. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data compression and encryption for exfiltration purposes, highlighting the need for robust cryptographic security implementations in mobile applications.