CVE-2014-7109 in Nesvarnik
Summary
by MITRE
The Nesvarnik (aka cz.dtest.nesvarnik) application 1.0 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 CVE-2014-7109 vulnerability affects the Nesvarnik application version 1.0 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it directly undermines the fundamental security principles of secure communication protocols that are essential for protecting sensitive information transmitted over networks.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation, where the Nesvarnik application fails to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification processes. This weakness allows attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation as classified by CWE-295, which specifically addresses the failure to validate certificates in secure communications. The application essentially accepts any certificate presented by a server without verifying its authenticity through established trust anchors, certificate authorities, or proper validation procedures that are standard in secure communication implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to establish fraudulent connections with users' devices, potentially intercepting and modifying sensitive data transmitted through the application. This includes personal information, authentication credentials, financial data, and other confidential communications that users expect to remain secure. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious servers, inject harmful content, or simply eavesdrop on communications without detection. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the application handles sensitive user data or financial transactions, as it provides attackers with a straightforward path to compromise the security of these communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing robust certificate chain validation that includes checking certificate signatures against trusted certificate authorities, verifying certificate expiration dates, and ensuring proper hostname validation. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate pinning techniques to further strengthen the security posture of the application. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes the use of man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept and manipulate communications. The remediation process should include thorough code review to ensure all network communications properly validate certificates, implementation of secure coding practices, and regular security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases. Additionally, the application should be updated to enforce proper SSL/TLS protocol versions and cipher suites to prevent downgrade attacks that could further exploit the certificate validation weakness.