CVE-2014-6984 in Shots
Summary
by MITRE
The Shots (aka com.shots.android) application 1.0.8 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-2014-6984 affects the Shots Android application version 1.0.8, presenting a critical security flaw in its implementation of secure communications. This application, designed for sharing photos and social networking, fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant exposure that undermines the fundamental security assurances of encrypted communications. The flaw resides in the application's certificate validation mechanism, which should enforce strict verification of server certificates against trusted certificate authorities but instead accepts potentially malicious certificates without proper scrutiny. This vulnerability directly violates established security principles and represents a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation that leaves users exposed to sophisticated attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification during SSL handshakes. When the Shots application establishes secure connections to its servers, it should validate the server's certificate against a trusted root certificate store and verify that the certificate chain is properly constructed and signed by recognized certificate authorities. However, the application's code lacks proper certificate validation logic, allowing any certificate to be accepted regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This weakness creates a man-in-the-middle attack surface where attackers can present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively breaking the SSL/TLS security model that is designed to prevent such interceptions and data theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely compromise the confidentiality and integrity of communications between users and the application's servers. An attacker positioned in the network path between the user's device and the Shots server can intercept and modify all data transmitted through the application, including user credentials, personal photos, and private communications. This exposure affects not only the privacy of individual users but also the overall security posture of the application's user base, potentially enabling large-scale data breaches and identity theft. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given that the application handles sensitive user content and personal information, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to exploit the weak cryptographic implementation.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as a certificate verification failure that aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in cryptographic implementations. The weakness directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering, as attackers can exploit the certificate validation bypass to establish false trust relationships with users. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the application, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate usage patterns, and educating users about the risks of connecting to untrusted networks. Additionally, the application should be redesigned to implement proper certificate pinning mechanisms and ensure that all SSL/TLS connections undergo rigorous certificate validation procedures before establishing secure communication channels.