CVE-2014-6991 in LiveAuctions.tv
Summary
by MITRE
The LiveAuctions.tv (aka air.LiveAndroidMaxx) application 2.005 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-2014-6991 affects the LiveAuctions.tv mobile application version 2.005 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle threats. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should occur during secure communications between the mobile application and its backend servers, where the application should validate the server's identity before establishing a secure connection.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's improper handling of SSL certificate validation, which falls under CWE-295 - Improper Certificate Validation. When the application establishes a secure connection to its servers, it should perform rigorous verification of the server's X.509 certificate against trusted certificate authorities and validate the certificate's authenticity, validity period, and domain name matching. However, the LiveAuctions.tv application bypasses these critical verification steps, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness enables attackers to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and its servers, potentially capturing sensitive user data including personal information, auction details, and financial transactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the mobile application and compromises user trust. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct active man-in-the-middle attacks, where they position themselves between the user's device and the legitimate server to capture, modify, or redirect communications. This vulnerability specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 - T1573.002 - Encrypted Channel, as it allows attackers to establish unauthorized secure channels that appear legitimate to the victim application. The implications are particularly severe for an auction platform where users may transmit sensitive information including personal identification, payment details, and bidding information that could be intercepted and exploited by malicious actors.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including updating to the latest version of the application where certificate verification has been properly implemented. Security best practices recommend that all mobile applications performing SSL/TLS communications should enforce strict certificate validation, including checking certificate chains, verifying certificate expiration dates, and ensuring domain name matching between the certificate and the target server. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential man-in-the-middle attacks targeting the application, while users should be educated about the importance of keeping their applications updated and avoiding untrusted network connections when accessing sensitive services. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when security controls are inadequately implemented in client-side applications.