CVE-2014-6928 in Rastreador de Celulares
Summary
by MITRE
The Rastreador de Celulares (aka com.mobincube.android.sc_9KTH8) application 5.0.0 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.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6928 affects the Rastreador de Celulares Android application version 5.0.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This vulnerability resides within the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism, specifically failing to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by remote servers during secure connections. The flaw creates a significant security gap that directly impacts the application's ability to establish trusted communication channels with backend services, potentially exposing users to various forms of cyber attacks targeting their personal data and device information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications. The application's failure to validate SSL certificates means it accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper verification of the certificate authority, domain name matching, or certificate chain integrity. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The attack vector specifically targets the SSL/TLS handshake process where the application should validate server certificates against trusted certificate authorities but instead accepts any certificate that can be generated or intercepted.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for users of the Rastreador de Celulares application, as it enables attackers to intercept and modify communications between the mobile application and its backend servers. The implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential device compromise, unauthorized access to location tracking services, and exposure of sensitive personal information that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given that the application appears to be a mobile tracking solution, suggesting it may handle sensitive location data and personal identifiers that could be exploited for surveillance or identity theft purposes.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is significant as it affects all users of the specific application version and potentially exposes any data transmitted through the insecure communication channel. Security frameworks such as the ATT&CK methodology would classify this as a credential access technique through network sniffing and man-in-the-middle capabilities. Organizations and users should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of the application, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior, and potentially using additional security layers such as certificate pinning to protect against this specific attack vector. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper secure coding practices in mobile applications and demonstrates how insufficient certificate validation can completely undermine the security of encrypted communications.