CVE-2014-6995 in eyewear
Summary
by MITRE
The adidas eyewear (aka com.adidasep.eyewear) application 1.2 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 • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6995 affects the adidas eyewear Android application version 1.2, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by encrypted communications. The flaw directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, leaving users exposed to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive data exchanges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper handling of SSL certificate validation mechanisms. When the application establishes connections to remote servers, it fails to perform essential certificate verification steps that should include checking certificate chains, validating issuer information, and ensuring certificates have not been tampered with or are not expired. This weakness enables attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively bypassing the security protections that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses issues related to improper certificate validation and certificate chain verification in secure communication protocols.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for users of the adidas eyewear application, as it allows attackers to intercept and potentially modify communications between the mobile application and backend servers. The implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential account compromise, personal information exposure, and unauthorized access to application services. Attackers could exploit this weakness to capture user credentials, personal data, or other sensitive information transmitted through the application's secure channels. This vulnerability particularly affects the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the security triad, as it undermines the application's ability to maintain secure communication channels.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given the nature of mobile applications that handle user data and potentially financial transactions. Mobile devices present unique challenges for secure communication due to their exposure to various network environments and potential attack vectors, making proper certificate validation even more critical. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, data interception, and other malicious activities that could compromise user privacy and application security. Organizations implementing similar security controls should consider the implications of such flaws and ensure robust certificate validation mechanisms are in place to prevent similar issues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation within the application's secure communication framework. Developers must ensure that certificate chains are fully validated, including checking certificate issuers, expiration dates, and digital signatures. The application should implement certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate, and utilize secure communication libraries that properly handle certificate verification. Security updates should include comprehensive testing of SSL/TLS implementations to verify that all certificate validation checks are properly enforced. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish incident response procedures for addressing certificate-related security incidents.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper secure coding practices and certificate validation in mobile application development. The flaw represents a failure to implement fundamental security controls that should be standard practice in all applications handling sensitive user information. The security implications extend beyond the immediate application to potentially affect user trust and brand reputation, highlighting the need for comprehensive security testing and validation of all secure communication implementations. Organizations should prioritize security reviews of their mobile applications and ensure that all SSL/TLS implementations follow industry best practices and standards for certificate validation and secure communication protocols. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to established security frameworks and maintaining vigilance against common implementation flaws that can compromise user security and data protection measures.