CVE-2014-7116 in NRA Journal
Summary
by MITRE
The NRA Journal (aka com.magazinecloner.nationalrifleassociationjournal) application @7F080181 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.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7116 affects the NRA Journal Android application, specifically targeting its secure communication protocols. This issue represents a critical flaw in the application's certificate validation mechanism, where the software fails to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers during secure connections. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant security gap that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given the sensitive nature of information that users might transmit or receive through this application, which could include personal data, financial information, or other confidential content.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to implement proper SSL certificate validation, which is a fundamental security requirement for maintaining secure communications over networks. When an application does not verify X.509 certificates, it essentially trusts any certificate presented by a server without confirming its authenticity or legitimacy. This weakness aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses issues related to improper certificate validation in secure communications. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by presenting a crafted certificate that appears legitimate to the unverified application, effectively allowing them to establish fraudulent secure connections while intercepting or modifying data in transit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that secure communications rely upon. Users interacting with the NRA Journal application may unknowingly transmit sensitive information to attackers who have successfully spoofed legitimate servers. This vulnerability creates an environment where attackers can perform session hijacking, data tampering, or credential theft without detection. The implications are particularly severe for applications handling personal information, as the compromised communication channel could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, or other serious consequences. This weakness directly corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1041 technique for data compression and encryption, where the lack of proper certificate validation enables unauthorized access to encrypted communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate verification mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning to ensure that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are accepted, thereby preventing attackers from using fraudulent certificates. The application must be updated to validate certificate chains, check certificate expiration dates, and verify certificate signatures against trusted certificate authorities. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency measures and regular security audits can help identify potential certificate-related issues. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring tools to detect unusual certificate behavior and implement proper security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future applications. The fix should align with industry best practices outlined in OWASP mobile security project recommendations for secure communication and proper certificate handling in mobile applications.