CVE-2014-6974 in Hairstyles
Summary
by MITRE
The MifaShow Hairstyles (aka com.mifashow) application 3.7 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6974 resides within the MifaShow Hairstyles mobile application version 3.7 for the android platform. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's implementation of secure communications protocols. The issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating an exploitable gap in the application's security framework that directly undermines the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile client and remote servers. Such a vulnerability fundamentally compromises the trust model that secure communication protocols are designed to establish.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of certificate validation mechanisms within its SSL implementation. When establishing secure connections to remote servers, the application fails to perform proper certificate chain validation, certificate expiration checking, or hostname verification processes that are standard requirements for secure SSL/TLS communications. This omission allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that would normally be rejected by properly configured security systems, enabling them to intercept and manipulate data transmitted between the mobile application and its backend services. The flaw specifically aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic implementation in mobile applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data interception, creating substantial risks for users and organizations relying on the application's services. Attackers exploiting this weakness can execute successful man-in-the-middle attacks to eavesdrop on communications, modify data in transit, or redirect users to malicious servers without their knowledge. Given that the application likely handles sensitive user information including personal preferences, account credentials, or potentially payment-related data, the consequences of such exploitation could include identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability also exposes users to potential credential harvesting attacks where attackers can capture login information and other sensitive data transmitted through the insecure connection.
Organizations and developers should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by ensuring proper SSL certificate validation is implemented throughout the application's communication stack. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to perform comprehensive certificate validation including chain of trust verification, expiration date checking, and hostname matching against the expected server identity. Security measures should include implementing certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate, ensuring that only pre-approved certificates or certificate authorities are accepted. Additionally, developers should conduct thorough security testing including penetration testing and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other cryptographic implementations within the application. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of adhering to established security frameworks and guidelines such as those specified in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for secure mobile application development, particularly in relation to cryptographic implementation best practices and secure communication protocols. The attack surface created by this flaw can be exploited by threat actors with relatively low technical expertise, making it a particularly dangerous vulnerability for widespread exploitation.