CVE-2014-7023 in Find Color
Summary
by MITRE
The Find Color (aka com.chudong.color) application 1.1.1 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 • 09/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7023 affects the Find Color Android application version 1.1.1, 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 that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by cryptographic protocols. The vulnerability 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 the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between the mobile application and backend services.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's certificate validation process, where it fails to perform proper verification of SSL server certificates against trusted certificate authorities. This omission creates a dangerous condition where attackers can present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted through the application's network communications. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security validation level, where the application should be implementing standard certificate chain validation procedures that include checking certificate signatures, expiration dates, and trust relationships with recognized certificate authorities. This flaw aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms that are essential for secure mobile application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to establish persistent surveillance capabilities against users of the Find Color application. Mobile applications that fail to properly validate SSL certificates create an environment where sensitive user information, including personal data, authentication credentials, and potentially financial information, becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker positioned between the mobile device and the server, capable of presenting a malicious certificate that the application accepts without proper verification. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may connect to unsecured public networks, increasing the attack surface and likelihood of exploitation. The implications align with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data compression and encryption, as the vulnerability undermines the encryption integrity that should protect user communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques that explicitly define which certificates or certificate authorities are trusted for specific domains, preventing the acceptance of fraudulent certificates even if they are signed by a legitimate authority. The application must perform comprehensive certificate chain validation including signature verification, expiration checking, and revocation status verification against trusted certificate authorities. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits of network communication components will help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL/TLS inspection capabilities that can detect and block malformed certificates before they reach the application. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices outlined in mobile security frameworks and security standards such as those provided by NIST and OWASP, ensuring that all network communications are properly secured against man-in-the-middle attacks. Regular security testing and code reviews should be implemented to prevent similar certificate validation flaws in future application releases and maintain the overall security posture of mobile applications.