CVE-2014-7091 in Sacramento Kings
Summary
by MITRE
The Sacramento Kings (aka com.tibco.gse.sports) application 6.0.8 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-2014-7091 affects the Sacramento Kings mobile application version 6.0.8 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly implement X.509 certificate verification during secure communication with backend servers, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the mobile application's network security implementation, where the application accepts any SSL certificate without proper authentication or validation of the certificate authority.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a failure in the application's cryptographic security implementation, where the SSL/TLS handshake process lacks proper certificate chain validation and trust verification. The application essentially disables certificate pinning and certificate validation checks, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This flaw aligns with CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture that violates standard secure communication protocols. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can intercept and modify communications between the mobile application and its servers without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish fraudulent communication channels with the application's backend services. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, access sensitive personal information, and potentially manipulate application functionality. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, creating widespread exposure across the user base, and represents a significant risk to user privacy and data confidentiality. Mobile security frameworks typically require strict certificate validation to prevent such scenarios, but this application fails to implement these essential security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7091 involve immediate application updates that restore proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms, including implementing certificate pinning, proper certificate chain validation, and trust store management. Organizations should implement certificate validation that checks certificate signatures, expiration dates, and certificate authority trust relationships. The fix should align with industry best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. Additionally, network security controls including SSL inspection and monitoring for suspicious certificate behavior can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during application development lifecycle phases.