CVE-2014-6930 in Abram Radio Groove!
Summary
by MITRE
The Abram Radio Groove! (aka com.nobexinc.wls_79226887.rc) application 3.2.3 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-2014-6930 affects the Abram Radio Groove! Android application version 3.2.3, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate validation, where the application fails to properly verify the authenticity of SSL/TLS certificates presented by remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the X.509 certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications over the internet. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation that can lead to serious security implications for applications that handle sensitive data or user credentials.
The technical flaw manifests when the application establishes SSL connections to remote servers without performing proper certificate chain validation. This means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of whether it is issued by a trusted certificate authority or if it matches the expected hostname. Attackers can exploit this weakness by deploying malicious SSL certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile device and target servers. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can decrypt and modify data in transit, potentially accessing sensitive user information, authentication credentials, or proprietary data exchanged through the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the application and exposes users to various attack vectors. Mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels for user authentication, data synchronization, or content delivery become vulnerable to passive and active attacks. The vulnerability affects not only the integrity of communications but also the confidentiality and authenticity guarantees that users expect from secure mobile applications. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vulnerability that can be exploited through standard network interception tools and techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may be connecting to untrusted networks.
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 trusted root authorities and ensure hostname verification is performed during SSL handshakes. The application should enforce strict certificate validation policies that reject certificates from untrusted sources or those that fail hostname matching requirements. Additionally, security patches should include proper error handling for certificate validation failures, ensuring that the application terminates connections rather than proceeding with insecure communications. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection capabilities and monitoring for suspicious certificate usage patterns. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential harvesting through phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that address both application-level and network-level vulnerabilities.