CVE-2014-6934 in Physics Chemistry Biology Quiz
Summary
by MITRE
The Physics Chemistry Biology Quiz (aka com.pdevsmcqs.pcbmcqseries) application 1.8 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-2014-6934 affects the Physics Chemistry Biology Quiz Android application version 1.8, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant exposure that undermines the fundamental security assurances of encrypted network communications. The application's insecure implementation leaves users susceptible to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can seamlessly impersonate legitimate servers.
This technical weakness represents a direct violation of established security protocols and constitutes a failure in certificate validation mechanisms that should be mandatory for any application handling sensitive data over network connections. The vulnerability falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. The application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation creates an attack surface where malicious actors can present fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to establish fraudulent communication channels that can be used to capture user credentials, personal information, and potentially financial data. When users engage with the application's network services, they unknowingly trust connections that may be compromised, leading to unauthorized access to their accounts and sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given that the application targets educational users who may not possess advanced cybersecurity knowledge to recognize the signs of certificate manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms, including certificate pinning, certificate chain validation, and revocation checking. Security practitioners should implement certificate transparency measures and ensure that the application performs comprehensive verification of certificate authorities and certificate properties before establishing secure connections. The fix should align with industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate validation. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar certificate validation weaknesses in other applications and network services.