CVE-2014-7062 in Association Min Ajlik
Summary
by MITRE
The Association Min Ajlik (aka com.association.min.ajlik) application 1.0 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 • 09/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7062 represents a critical security flaw in the Association Min Ajlik Android application version 1.0 that fundamentally compromises the integrity of secure communications. This application fails to implement proper certificate validation mechanisms when establishing SSL connections, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle threats. The absence of X.509 certificate verification means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper authentication, effectively nullifying the cryptographic protections that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and signature validation processes that are standard requirements for secure SSL communication. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 by enabling credential theft through interception of encrypted communications. The application's insecure implementation allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the client application, enabling them to establish connections that appear secure while actually routing traffic through attacker-controlled intermediaries.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for both end users and the organizations relying on the application for sensitive data transmission. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and modify communications between the application and backend servers, potentially gaining access to personal information, authentication credentials, or proprietary data. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential service disruption, financial fraud, and compromise of user privacy. Users may unknowingly transmit sensitive information to malicious actors who appear to be legitimate service providers, undermining trust in the application and the broader ecosystem of mobile security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation procedures within the application code. Organizations should implement certificate pinning mechanisms to ensure that only predetermined certificates or certificate authorities are accepted, thereby preventing attackers from using fraudulent certificates even if they can intercept communications. The application must perform comprehensive certificate chain validation, including signature verification, expiration date checks, and hostname matching against the server's certificate. Security patches should enforce strict SSL/TLS protocol version requirements and disable support for deprecated cryptographic algorithms that are vulnerable to exploitation. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be implemented to prevent similar issues in future releases, with particular attention to mobile application security best practices outlined in OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines.