CVE-2014-6921 in Buckhorn Grill
Summary
by MITRE
The Buckhorn Grill (aka com.orderingapps.buckhorn) application 2.8 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-2014-6921 affects the Buckhorn Grill mobile application version 2.8 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile client and backend services.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification during SSL/TLS connections. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should validate the server's certificate against a trusted certificate authority and verify that the certificate's hostname matches the server being connected to. In this case, the Buckhorn Grill application bypasses these critical validation steps, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This vulnerability directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications without detection by the mobile client.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it exposes users to potential data breaches and information theft. Attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on sensitive communications including user credentials, personal information, payment details, and other confidential data transmitted between the mobile application and backend servers. The vulnerability particularly affects applications that handle financial transactions or personal user data, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to monetize stolen information. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and T1566 which encompasses social engineering attacks that leverage weak security implementations.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insufficient certificate validation, which is commonly exploited in mobile application security breaches. The flaw represents a failure to implement proper SSL pinning or certificate verification mechanisms, leaving the application defenseless against attackers who can establish fraudulent secure connections. Organizations should immediately address this issue by implementing proper certificate validation procedures, including certificate pinning, hostname verification, and regular security audits of mobile applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, particularly in relation to secure communication implementation and proper certificate handling practices.