CVE-2014-6988 in Quotes in Images
Summary
by MITRE
The Quotes in Images (aka pt.lumberapps.imagensfrases) application 3.7.5 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-2014-6988 affects the Quotes in Images application version 3.7.5 for Android devices, 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 for malicious actors operating in man-in-the-middle scenarios. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security assurances that SSL/TLS encryption is designed to provide.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of certificate verification within the application's SSL implementation, specifically failing to validate the certificate chain, expiration dates, and issuer authenticity. This weakness enables attackers to intercept communications between the Android application and its remote servers by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security validation level, where proper certificate pinning or verification should occur, but instead the application accepts any certificate presented without sufficient validation checks. This behavior aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a classic case of insufficient certificate trust validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it allows attackers to gain access to sensitive information transmitted through the application's communication channels. Mobile applications that rely on secure server communications for user data, authentication tokens, or personalized content become vulnerable to exploitation, potentially leading to user privacy breaches, identity theft, or unauthorized access to personal information. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and creates a persistent threat surface that remains active until the application is updated with proper certificate validation mechanisms. This weakness particularly impacts mobile environments where users may be connecting over public networks, increasing the attack surface and exploitation likelihood.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application updates that implement proper SSL certificate validation procedures, including certificate pinning, certificate chain validation, and expiration date checks. Security practitioners should implement certificate validation libraries that properly verify certificate authorities, subject names, and cryptographic signatures before establishing secure connections. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual certificate behavior and establish secure communication policies that require certificate validation. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, which emphasizes proper implementation of secure communication protocols and certificate validation mechanisms. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework mitigations for mobile security, particularly those related to secure communication and certificate validation to prevent similar issues in future mobile application deployments.