CVE-2014-7120 in Model Laboratory
Summary
by MITRE
The Model Laboratory (aka com.magazinecloner.modellaboratory) application @7F080193 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-2014-7120 affects the Model Laboratory Android application, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness resides in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a critical security gap that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, making it a direct descendant of weak cryptographic practices that have plagued mobile applications for years. The application's insecure implementation allows attackers to present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the client application, effectively bypassing the fundamental security mechanisms designed to protect data integrity and confidentiality.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's SSL/TLS handshake process where certificate verification is either completely omitted or inadequately implemented. When the Model Laboratory application establishes connections to remote servers, it fails to perform proper certificate chain validation, hostname checking, or trust anchor verification that are standard requirements for secure communications. This vulnerability enables attackers to intercept and manipulate data transmitted between the mobile application and backend services, potentially compromising user credentials, personal information, and sensitive data exchanges. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the transport layer security level, meaning that all data passing through the application's network connections becomes vulnerable to interception and modification without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete session hijacking and service impersonation capabilities for attackers. Mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels for authentication, data synchronization, or transaction processing become particularly vulnerable when they fail to validate server certificates. This weakness can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, financial data breaches, and the compromise of business-critical information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, as attackers can leverage existing tools to generate and present fraudulent certificates that will be accepted by the vulnerable application, making it a particularly attractive target for automated attack campaigns. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves network service scanning and exploitation of insecure communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network security framework. Developers should implement certificate pinning to ensure that only pre-approved certificates from trusted authorities are accepted, thereby preventing the acceptance of fraudulent certificates even if they are cryptographically valid. The application should also enforce strict hostname validation during certificate verification, ensuring that the certificate presented matches the expected server identity. Additionally, implementing certificate revocation checking and maintaining up-to-date trust stores helps prevent exploitation of compromised certificates. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level security controls such as SSL inspection and monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior. The remediation process must align with industry standards including the OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure communication and the NIST SP 800-52 guidelines for certificate management in mobile environments, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities in future releases.