CVE-2014-7090 in MyVCCCD
Summary
by MITRE
The MyVCCCD (aka com.dub.app.ventura) application 1.4.14 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 • 09/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7090 affects the MyVCCCD Android application version 1.4.14, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's cryptographic security architecture, where the software fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to exploit the application's trust model and establish fraudulent communication channels.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification during secure socket connections. When an Android application establishes SSL connections, it should validate the server certificate against trusted certificate authorities and verify that the certificate's hostname matches the target server. In this case, the MyVCCCD application bypasses these essential security checks, allowing attackers to present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and specifically relates to the absence of proper SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user data. Attackers can intercept and modify communications between the vulnerable application and its backend services, potentially accessing personal information, authentication credentials, or financial data. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, creating a widespread security risk that extends beyond individual devices to potentially impact entire user populations. This weakness is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users often conduct sensitive transactions or access confidential information through mobile applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation efforts to implement proper certificate validation mechanisms. The application developers must enforce strict certificate chain validation, implement hostname verification checks, and ensure that only certificates from trusted certificate authorities are accepted. Security measures should include implementing certificate pinning techniques to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates, even if they are signed by trusted authorities. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish secure communication protocols that align with industry standards such as those defined in the NIST SP 800-52 guidelines for certificate management. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to user data through compromised communication channels.