CVE-2014-6971 in Easy Video Downloader
Summary
by MITRE
The Easy Video Downloader (aka com.simon.padillar.EasyVideo) application 4.4.1 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 • 09/24/2024
The CVE-2014-6971 vulnerability affects the Easy Video Downloader Android application version 4.4.1, representing a critical security flaw in certificate validation mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of insufficient certificate verification, which is classified as CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant security risk for users who rely on the app for downloading video content from various sources.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification during SSL connections. When the app establishes secure connections to remote servers, it does not verify that the presented certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities or that they match the expected hostname of the target server. This omission allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby enabling unauthorized access to sensitive user data and communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it compromises the fundamental security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate video servers, redirect users to malicious websites, or capture sensitive information transmitted through the application. This vulnerability particularly affects users who download content from potentially untrusted sources, as the application's lack of certificate verification makes it impossible to distinguish between genuine and malicious servers. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects a widely used video downloading application, potentially exposing thousands of users to data compromise.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including updating to patched versions of the application when available, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior, and considering alternative video downloading applications with proper certificate validation mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and defense evasion, as attackers can leverage the compromised trust relationship to gain unauthorized access to user credentials and sensitive information. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper cryptographic implementation practices and highlights the critical need for mobile applications to adhere to established security standards for secure communication protocols.