CVE-2014-6939 in Sketch W Friends FREE -Tablets
Summary
by MITRE
The Sketch W Friends FREE -Tablets (aka air.com.xlabz.SketchWFriendsFree) 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6939 affects the Sketch W Friends FREE -Tablets Android application version 5.0.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating an exploitable condition that fundamentally undermines the security of data transmission between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is a cornerstone of secure communication in mobile applications and represents a direct violation of established security protocols.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient certificate validation mechanism that allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. This occurs because the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary cryptographic verification steps that should confirm the certificate's authenticity and trustworthiness. The vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a failure in the application's secure communication implementation that violates fundamental security principles. The absence of proper certificate pinning or validation creates an attack surface where malicious actors can intercept and manipulate communications without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive information through crafted certificates that can masquerade as legitimate servers. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create a dangerous environment where user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other sensitive content can be compromised. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of communications between the mobile device and backend services, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, manipulate application functionality, or extract proprietary information. This weakness particularly impacts applications handling user authentication, personal data, or financial transactions, as the compromised communication channel can lead to complete account takeovers and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-6939 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques that validate certificates against a known good set of trusted certificates, ensuring that only certificates from authorized Certificate Authorities are accepted. The application should perform comprehensive X.509 certificate validation including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate chains, and ensuring proper signature validation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits of mobile applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering, demonstrating how insecure certificate handling can enable broader attack vectors. The remediation process must include comprehensive code review, security testing, and implementation of industry-standard secure communication protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases and maintain the integrity of mobile application security.