CVE-2014-6978 in Karim Rahal Essoulami
Summary
by MITRE
The Karim Rahal Essoulami (aka com.karim.rahal.essoulami.lcxogeyuizteegxvnq) application 1.0 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-2014-6978 represents a critical security flaw in the Karim Rahal Essoulami Android application version 1.0, specifically targeting the application's handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This weakness fundamentally undermines the security foundation that secure communications rely upon, creating a pathway for sophisticated attackers to exploit the application's trust model. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during the secure connection establishment process, which directly violates fundamental security principles governing encrypted communications.
This technical flaw constitutes a classic implementation error in certificate validation logic where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary cryptographic verification steps required to establish trust. The absence of proper certificate chain validation, issuer verification, and signature validation creates an environment where attackers can generate and present fraudulent certificates that the application will accept as legitimate. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and falls under the broader category of weak cryptographic implementations that compromise secure communication channels. The flaw operates at the transport layer security level, where the application should enforce certificate pinning or proper certificate validation before establishing trust with remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive man-in-the-middle attack capabilities that can result in complete compromise of sensitive information flows. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers, intercept and modify communications, and potentially gain access to user credentials, personal data, and other confidential information transmitted through the vulnerable application. The implications are particularly severe given that the application operates on mobile platforms where users often access sensitive services such as banking, email, and personal accounts. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" and T1566, which covers "Phishing for Information", as attackers can exploit this weakness to establish persistent surveillance and data exfiltration capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must implement comprehensive certificate chain validation, including issuer verification, expiration date checks, and signature validation using trusted certificate authorities. The application should employ certificate pinning techniques to ensure that only pre-approved certificates are accepted, and implement proper error handling that prevents the application from proceeding with unverified connections. Security measures should also include regular certificate validation updates, implementation of secure coding practices, and adherence to industry standards such as those defined by NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management. Additionally, the application should incorporate proper logging and monitoring capabilities to detect potential certificate validation failures and unauthorized certificate usage attempts. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their mobile applications and ensure compliance with established security frameworks and best practices for mobile application security.