CVE-2014-7108 in Stop Headaches
Summary
by MITRE
The Stop Headaches and Migraines (aka com.StopHeadachesandMigraines) 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7108 resides within the Stop Headaches and Migraines Android application version 1.2, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's trust model. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish secure communication channels with remote servers, fundamentally compromising the integrity of data transmission between the mobile device and backend services. The absence of proper certificate verification means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without validating its authenticity or legitimacy, effectively undermining the entire SSL/TLS security framework that is designed to protect against unauthorized access and data interception.
This technical flaw places the application at severe risk of man-in-the-middle attacks, where attackers can position themselves between the mobile client and legitimate servers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information. The vulnerability specifically affects the certificate validation process, which is a fundamental component of secure communication protocols as defined by industry standards and security frameworks. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation, where the application fails to properly validate the trust chain of certificates used for SSL/TLS connections. The flaw enables attackers to generate or obtain fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to establish connections that should be secure but are instead controlled by malicious parties. This creates a dangerous environment where sensitive user data, potentially including personal health information or other confidential data, can be exposed to unauthorized access during transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential data manipulation and complete system compromise. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create a false sense of security for users while simultaneously exposing them to various attack vectors that can be leveraged for financial fraud, identity theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate data being transmitted but also potentially undermines the application's ability to maintain secure sessions, authenticate users properly, and protect against various network-based attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability enables techniques such as credential access through network sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks, while also providing a pathway for initial access and privilege escalation. The impact is particularly concerning for health-related applications like this one, where the compromised data could include sensitive medical information that requires protection under healthcare privacy regulations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms within the application, ensuring that only pre-approved certificates or certificate authorities are accepted for secure connections. Additionally, developers should implement robust certificate validation routines that check certificate expiration dates, verify certificate chains, and ensure proper domain name matching. The application should be updated to include proper SSL/TLS configuration that enforces certificate validation and rejects invalid or untrusted certificates. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish proper incident response procedures for handling security breaches. Security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the application or related systems. The remediation process should also include user education about the risks associated with using vulnerable applications and the importance of keeping software updated to protect against known security flaws.