CVE-2014-6922 in KFAI Community Radio
Summary
by MITRE
The KFAI Community Radio (aka com.skyblue.pra.kfai) application 2.0.4 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-2014-6922 affects the KFAI Community Radio Android application version 2.0.4, 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 attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should occur during secure socket layer establishment, where the application neglects to perform the essential validation steps required to ensure the authenticity of server certificates. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of secure communication and represents a classic example of insufficient certificate validation, which is classified under CWE-295 - Improper Certificate Validation.
The technical implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple certificate checking failures, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the Android application and backend services. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to establish fake secure connections and potentially access user credentials, personal information, or other confidential data. The application's inability to verify certificate chains, validate certificate expiration dates, or check certificate authorities creates a pathway for attackers to impersonate legitimate services and redirect traffic through malicious intermediaries. This weakness is particularly dangerous in mobile applications where users may be transmitting sensitive information over public networks, as the attack can occur without any user awareness or indication of compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-6922 extends to potential data breaches, privacy violations, and loss of user trust in the affected application. Mobile applications that handle user authentication, personal information, or financial data are particularly vulnerable to exploitation of this flaw, as attackers can intercept session tokens, login credentials, or other sensitive information during transmission. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate application functionality but also compromises the overall security posture of users who rely on the application for community radio services. This type of vulnerability is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1573.002 - Encrypted Channel, as it enables attackers to establish secure communication channels without proper authentication. The flaw can be exploited across various network environments including public Wi-Fi networks, cellular data connections, and enterprise networks where mobile applications are commonly used.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques that validate certificate chains against known good certificates or certificate authorities, ensuring that only trusted certificates are accepted for secure connections. The application should verify certificate expiration dates, check certificate revocation status through CRL or OCSP mechanisms, and validate certificate subject names against expected server identities. Additionally, the implementation should include proper error handling for certificate validation failures, ensuring that connections are terminated when certificate validation fails rather than proceeding with insecure connections. Security updates should be deployed immediately to address this vulnerability, and developers should follow industry best practices for secure mobile application development as outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST guidelines for mobile security. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing and validation of all cryptographic components within mobile software.