CVE-2014-7111 in Android Excellence
Summary
by MITRE
The Android Excellence (aka an.exc.ap) application 1.4.1 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-2014-7111 affects the Android Excellence application version 1.4.1, representing a critical security flaw in the mobile application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly implement X.509 certificate verification processes, creating a significant attack surface that compromises the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability operates at the core of the application's network security architecture, where it should be enforcing cryptographic security protocols but instead accepts potentially malicious certificates without proper validation. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles that govern secure communication in mobile environments, particularly within the Android ecosystem where certificate pinning and validation are expected to be robust components of the security framework.
The technical implementation flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate chain validation within the application's SSL/TLS handshake process. When the Android Excellence application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it fails to verify the certificate authority signatures, certificate expiration dates, or the proper chaining of certificates from the server to a trusted root certificate authority. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation as classified by CWE-295, which specifically addresses weaknesses in certificate validation mechanisms. The application essentially operates with a trust model that accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or legitimacy, making it susceptible to various man-in-the-middle attack vectors that exploit this validation gap. The flaw demonstrates a critical failure in implementing the standard security practices that require certificate verification against trusted certificate authorities and proper certificate chain construction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, creating a comprehensive attack vector that enables sophisticated adversaries to conduct active man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to decrypt and potentially modify communications between users and backend services. This compromises sensitive user information including personal data, authentication credentials, and potentially financial information transmitted through the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the application's ability to maintain secure communication channels, which is fundamental to mobile application security. According to ATT&CK framework category T1046, this vulnerability enables adversaries to perform network service detection and manipulation, while T1566 covers the technique of credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks. The impact is amplified in mobile environments where applications often handle sensitive personal and financial data, making this vulnerability a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit mobile application security weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the Android Excellence application. The most effective approach involves implementing certificate pinning, where the application explicitly trusts specific certificates or certificate authorities rather than accepting any certificate presented by a server. Additionally, the application must implement proper certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authority signatures, and ensuring proper certificate hierarchy. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate revocation checking mechanisms to detect and reject compromised certificates. The remediation efforts should align with industry standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and TLS protocol implementations. Security architects should ensure that all mobile applications follow the principle of least privilege in certificate validation and implement robust error handling for certificate validation failures. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that certificate validation mechanisms are properly functioning and that no similar validation gaps exist in the application's security architecture.