CVE-2014-7048 in Bear ID Lock
Summary
by MITRE
The Bear ID Lock (aka com.wBearIDLock) application 0.1 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 • 09/27/2024
The Bear ID Lock application version 0.1 for Android presents a critical security vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and remote servers. This vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS handshakes, creating an exploitable weakness that directly enables man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw represents a complete breakdown in the certificate verification process that should be mandatory for any application handling sensitive user data or authentication credentials over network connections. Such a vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may be accessing banking applications, personal accounts, or other sensitive services that rely on secure communication channels to protect their data.
The technical implementation flaw in Bear ID Lock demonstrates a critical failure in the application's cryptographic security architecture, specifically in how it handles SSL/TLS certificate validation. When an application fails to verify X.509 certificates, it essentially removes the entire public key infrastructure validation process from its security model, leaving users vulnerable to attacks where malicious actors can present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the unverified client. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a direct violation of the fundamental security principle that all certificate verification must occur before establishing secure connections. The application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms creates an attack surface where adversaries can intercept and modify communications without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete compromise of user trust and application integrity. Mobile applications that handle sensitive information without proper certificate validation create opportunities for attackers to intercept user credentials, personal data, and other confidential information transmitted over the network. This weakness particularly affects applications that may be used for identity verification, access control, or authentication purposes, as the Bear ID Lock application appears to be designed for security-critical functions. The vulnerability enables attackers to establish fraudulent connections that appear legitimate to the user, potentially allowing them to capture authentication tokens, session data, or other sensitive information that would normally be protected by SSL/TLS encryption protocols. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of mobile security where users may be accessing applications in public or unsecured network environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in future application development. The primary solution involves implementing proper X.509 certificate validation procedures that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities, implement certificate pinning where appropriate, and ensure that all SSL/TLS connections undergo rigorous verification before data transmission occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in their mobile applications. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those defined by the OWASP Mobile Security Project, which emphasizes the need for proper cryptographic implementation and certificate validation in mobile applications. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of certificate validation logic and implementation of automated security scanning tools to detect similar issues in other applications within the organization's portfolio.