CVE-2014-6975 in Twin Lin
Summary
by MITRE
The Twin Lin (aka com.twinlin.twmo) application 5 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-2014-6975 affects the Twin Lin application version 5 for Android, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by Transport Layer Security. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between the mobile application and remote servers, making it susceptible to various forms of malicious interference.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's certificate verification process, where it fails to perform proper validation of SSL server certificates against trusted certificate authorities. This omission allows attackers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The certificate validation process typically involves checking certificate signatures, verifying certificate chains against trusted root certificates, and ensuring certificate expiration dates remain valid. In this case, the Twin Lin application bypasses these essential security checks, effectively disabling the certificate pinning mechanism that should protect against certificate fraud and unauthorized server impersonation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information transmitted through the application. Mobile applications that rely on SSL/TLS for secure communications expect that certificate validation will prevent attackers from establishing fraudulent connections. When this validation fails, the application becomes vulnerable to credential theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation attacks. The implications are particularly severe for applications handling personal information, financial data, or corporate secrets, as attackers can exploit this weakness to compromise user privacy and organizational security.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices recommended by industry standards. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1557.001, "Adversary-in-the-Middle: SSL/TLS Decryption," highlighting how attackers can leverage such weaknesses to intercept and manipulate encrypted communications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms in mobile applications, as outlined in security best practices established by organizations such as OWASP and NIST. Organizations should implement comprehensive security testing protocols that include certificate validation testing to prevent similar issues from occurring in mobile application development.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation procedures within the application. Developers must ensure that the application validates certificate signatures against trusted certificate authorities, checks certificate expiration dates, and verifies certificate subject names match the target server. The application should implement certificate pinning mechanisms that explicitly define which certificates or certificate authorities are trusted for specific connections. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar certificate validation weaknesses. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish incident response procedures to address certificate-related security incidents.