CVE-2014-7083 in Jiu Jik
Summary
by MITRE
The Jiu Jik (aka com.scmp.jiujik) application 1.4.0 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-2014-7083 affects the Jiu Jik Android application version 1.4.0, 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 surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security assurances that SSL/TLS encryption is designed to provide.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's cryptographic implementation where it bypasses the standard certificate verification process that should occur during SSL handshakes. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should validate the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the connection is genuine and not being intercepted by malicious actors. The Jiu Jik application fails to perform this crucial verification step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without question. This behavior creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where attackers can intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the application and its servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attack scenarios that can compromise user privacy and data security. Attackers positioned between the user and the application server can establish fraudulent SSL connections, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal information, financial data, or other sensitive content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core security mechanism that protects communication channels, meaning that any data transmitted through the application could be compromised. This flaw essentially renders the application's security measures ineffective, leaving users vulnerable to various forms of cyber attacks including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices recommended by industry standards. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique related to "Proxy Execution" and "Credentials in Files" where adversaries can leverage weakened security controls to access sensitive information. Organizations and developers should consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent such vulnerabilities, ensuring that applications only accept specific certificates or public keys rather than trusting the entire certificate authority chain. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar certificate validation issues that could compromise application security. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate validation in mobile applications and demonstrates how seemingly simple security oversights can create substantial risks for end users.