CVE-2014-7061 in MODSIM World 2014
Summary
by MITRE
The MODSIM World 2014 (aka com.concursive.modsimworld) application 2.0.0 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.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7061 affects the MODSIM World 2014 Android application version 2.0.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. The application's inability to verify server certificates means it cannot distinguish between legitimate secure connections and maliciously crafted impostor servers, fundamentally undermining the integrity of the encrypted communication channel.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a severe failure in the application's cryptographic security architecture, specifically violating established best practices for SSL/TLS certificate validation. The flaw directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a classic example of weak SSL/TLS implementation that has been documented extensively in mobile security contexts. The application's certificate verification mechanism appears to be completely absent or improperly configured, allowing any certificate to be accepted regardless of its authenticity or trust chain validity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly concerning given the nature of mobile applications that handle sensitive user data and potentially confidential information. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting forged certificates to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and its backend servers. This capability enables passive data exfiltration, active data manipulation, and authentication bypass attacks that could compromise user credentials, personal information, and proprietary data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where mobile applications often handle sensitive business data and communications.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically the credential access and defense evasion categories. The attack vector involves establishing trust with malicious entities through certificate manipulation, which falls under the credential access domain where adversaries seek to obtain user credentials and sensitive information. The lack of certificate validation also provides an evasion technique that allows attackers to bypass traditional network security controls that might otherwise detect suspicious traffic patterns. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, regular security assessments, and application updates to address this vulnerability and prevent exploitation by threat actors.
The remediation approach should focus on implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms, including certificate pinning to prevent the acceptance of untrusted certificates. This involves configuring the application to verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and implementing proper error handling for certificate validation failures. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive mobile application security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and establish robust security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the need for continuous security validation throughout the application lifecycle.