CVE-2014-6941 in NOS Alive
Summary
by MITRE
The NOS Alive (aka pt.optimus.optimusalive2011) application 5.1 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-2014-6941 affects the NOS Alive application version 5.1 for Android operating systems, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of SSL/TLS connections and demonstrates a fundamental failure in certificate validation mechanisms that exposes users to significant security risks.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's complete absence of X.509 certificate verification during SSL connections, which directly violates established security protocols and standards. This weakness creates a dangerous trust relationship where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper validation, effectively disabling the security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a classic example of inadequate certificate pinning or validation implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of all data transmitted through the application. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to intercept and potentially modify sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications. This weakness is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may be accessing sensitive services over public networks, making the attack surface significantly larger than in controlled network environments.
The security implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Mobile applications that handle sensitive data without proper certificate validation create an environment where attackers can establish persistent surveillance capabilities. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1041 for data encryption, T1566 for credential access through social engineering, and T1571 for application layer protocol manipulation. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates at the transport layer security level, making it difficult for users to detect the compromise.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms including certificate pinning, certificate chain verification, and regular security audits of SSL/TLS implementations. Application developers should adopt industry standards such as those defined in RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate validation and implement robust certificate trust management. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SSL traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper security testing during application development lifecycle phases to prevent such fundamental flaws from reaching production environments.