CVE-2014-7104 in gymnoOVP
Summary
by MITRE
The gymnoOVP (iOVP) (aka com.johtru.gymnoOVP) application 1.2 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7104 affects the gymnoOVP application version 1.2 for Android devices, 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 and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers.
From a technical perspective, the flaw manifests as a lack of proper certificate chain validation and hostname checking mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. This allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 for data encryption and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation procedures means that any certificate presented by a malicious server can be accepted without scrutiny, effectively nullifying the security benefits of SSL/TLS encryption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it exposes users to potential data interception and theft of sensitive information transmitted through the application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture login credentials, personal data, financial information, or other confidential details that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain data integrity and confidentiality, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user accounts, financial fraud, or identity theft. Mobile users who rely on the gymnoOVP application for sensitive operations become particularly vulnerable to attacks that could compromise their personal and financial information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Security best practices recommend implementing certificate pinning to ensure that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are accepted, thereby preventing attackers from using forged certificates. The application should also implement proper hostname verification procedures to ensure that certificates are valid for the specific server being accessed. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate revocation checking and regular security updates to address potential vulnerabilities in the SSL/TLS implementation. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in mobile applications and ensure compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security.