CVE-2014-7098 in Secure Large File Sender
Summary
by MITRE
The Fylet Secure Large File Sender (aka com.application.fyletFileSender) application 2.0 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 • 09/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7098 affects the Fylet Secure Large File Sender Android application version 2.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant weakness in the secure communication channel between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
This flaw constitutes a classic man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept communications between the vulnerable Android application and its intended servers. The application's inability to verify server certificates means that attackers can present forged certificates to establish fraudulent connections while the application remains oblivious to the deception. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a failure in implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate pinning or validation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and potentially intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted through the application's secure channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as the compromised application can be used to conduct sophisticated attacks against users and organizations relying on the secure file transfer service. Mobile users are particularly vulnerable since the application operates in environments where network traffic can be easily monitored and manipulated by attackers. The security implications include potential exposure of confidential files, user credentials, and sensitive business information that may be transmitted through the vulnerable application. This weakness undermines the fundamental security assurances that users expect from secure file transfer applications, particularly those handling sensitive corporate or personal data.
Organizations and users should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the application when available, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior, and considering alternative secure file transfer solutions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper certificate validation implementation in mobile applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 for data manipulation and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Security teams should also consider implementing certificate transparency monitoring and regular security assessments of mobile applications to identify similar validation weaknesses. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of cryptographic implementation reviews and proper security testing of mobile applications before deployment in production environments.