CVE-2014-7113 in NASA Universe Wallpapers Xeus
Summary
by MITRE
The NASA Universe Wallpapers Xeus (aka com.xeusNASA) 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-2014-7113 vulnerability affects the NASA Universe Wallpapers Xeus Android application version 1.0, presenting a critical security flaw in certificate validation mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the application's SSL/TLS implementation where it fails to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by remote servers during secure communication sessions. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's cryptographic security posture, specifically targeting the certificate verification process that is essential for establishing trust in secure communications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the application's inability to validate the authenticity of SSL certificates through proper certificate chain validation, certificate pinning mechanisms, or trusted certificate authority verification. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should validate that the server's certificate is issued by a trusted certificate authority, has not expired, and matches the expected hostname. The Xeus application bypasses these critical validation steps, creating a dangerous security gap that allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship between client and server.
This vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can intercept communications between the application and its intended servers by presenting forged SSL certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The attack vector involves the attacker positioning themselves between the mobile device and the target server, then presenting a malicious certificate that the application accepts without proper verification. This allows the attacker to decrypt and potentially modify communications, gaining access to sensitive information that the application transmits or receives.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to potentially compromise user privacy and data integrity. Given that this application is related to NASA's universe wallpapers, it may handle user preferences, download content, or communicate with backend services that could contain sensitive information. The vulnerability affects all users of the application who establish SSL connections, making it a widespread concern for anyone using the software. The lack of certificate verification means that users cannot trust that their communications are truly secure and that they are communicating with legitimate NASA servers rather than attacker-controlled intermediaries.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices for mobile applications. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1041, where adversaries use man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept communications. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices that should be addressed through proper certificate validation, including checking certificate signatures, validating certificate chains, and implementing certificate pinning where appropriate. Organizations should consider implementing certificate pinning strategies, regular security code reviews, and comprehensive testing of cryptographic implementations to prevent similar issues.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires the application developers to implement proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities, check certificate expiration dates, and validate hostname matches. This includes implementing certificate pinning for critical communications, using Android's built-in certificate validation APIs, and ensuring that all network communications properly validate server certificates before establishing trust. The fix should also include implementing proper error handling for certificate validation failures to prevent the application from accepting invalid certificates. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of mobile applications should be conducted to identify similar validation gaps that could compromise user security and privacy.