CVE-2014-6976 in Aeroexpress
Summary
by MITRE
The Aeroexpress (aka ru.lynx.aero) application 2.6.2 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-2014-6976 affects the Aeroexpress mobile application version 2.6.2 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant pathway for malicious actors to exploit the communication channel between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should occur during secure socket layer establishment, where the application neglects to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the application's SSL/TLS handshake process where it fails to validate certificate authorities, certificate expiration dates, and certificate subject names against the expected server identity. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security validation level, where the application accepts any certificate without proper cryptographic verification, effectively disabling the security mechanisms designed to protect against unauthorized access and data interception. This flaw directly violates the fundamental principles of secure communication protocols and represents a failure in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables comprehensive attack vectors that can compromise user privacy and sensitive information. Attackers can intercept and modify communications between the mobile application and backend servers, potentially accessing user credentials, personal information, financial data, and other confidential details transmitted through the application. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, creating a widespread security risk across the user base. This weakness undermines the integrity of the entire application ecosystem and can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to corporate or personal systems that rely on the application for secure communication.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning mechanisms, proper SSL/TLS certificate validation, and comprehensive security testing of mobile applications. Organizations should follow industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE-295 category for certificate validation failures and implement ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and defense evasion. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in mobile applications and highlights the need for robust security testing during the development lifecycle. Organizations must ensure that all SSL/TLS implementations properly validate certificate chains and implement appropriate security controls to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. The remediation process should include updating the application to properly validate certificates, implementing certificate pinning where appropriate, and conducting thorough security audits of all cryptographic implementations within mobile applications.