CVE-2014-7019 in Clarks Inn
Summary
by MITRE
The Clarks Inn (aka com.ClarksInn) application 3.3.0 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 • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7019 affects the Clarks Inn Android application version 3.3.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue falls under the category of insufficient certificate verification, where the application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The flaw creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without proper validation. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between the mobile application and remote servers, as the application cannot distinguish between legitimate and malicious SSL certificates.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification processes. When an Android application establishes SSL connections, it should validate the server certificate against trusted certificate authorities and verify that the certificate is valid for the target domain. The Clarks Inn application bypasses these critical security checks, allowing attackers to intercept and modify communications without detection. This weakness represents a direct violation of secure communication protocols and demonstrates poor implementation of the Android networking security framework. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" through compromised secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive user information that the application processes. Mobile applications that handle personal data, financial transactions, or confidential communications are particularly at risk when they fail to properly validate SSL certificates. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture user credentials, personal information, financial data, or other sensitive content transmitted through the application's secure channels. The vulnerability is especially dangerous because it operates silently without alerting users to the compromised connection, making it difficult to detect and mitigate. This type of attack can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to user accounts, with potential regulatory and compliance implications for the organization operating the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7019 should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL communication stack. Developers must ensure that all SSL connections perform complete certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying domain name matches, and confirming trust against established certificate authorities. The application should implement certificate pinning where appropriate to prevent the acceptance of unauthorized certificates, even if they are valid from a technical standpoint. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual certificate behavior and establish secure coding practices that adhere to industry standards such as those outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. Additionally, the affected application should be updated immediately with proper SSL certificate validation routines to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability by malicious actors.