CVE-2014-7134 in PROF. USMAN ALI AWHEELA
Summary
by MITRE
The PROF. USMAN ALI AWHEELA (aka com.wPROFUAAWHEELA) application 2.1 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 • 10/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7134 affects the PROF. USMAN ALI AWHEELA Android application version 2.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of data transmission between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper SSL certificate validation within the application's network communication stack, placing the vulnerability squarely within the scope of CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that the application accepts without proper verification. The implementation bypasses the standard certificate chain validation procedures that should confirm the authenticity of SSL servers, enabling attackers to intercept and potentially modify data in transit. The vulnerability represents a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation and demonstrates poor security practices in handling secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive information through crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. This creates a persistent threat vector where adversaries can establish fraudulent connections with the application, potentially accessing user credentials, personal data, financial information, or other confidential material transmitted through the application. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assurances that users expect from secure mobile applications and can lead to significant privacy breaches and financial losses. Organizations relying on this application for sensitive operations face heightened risk of data compromise and potential regulatory violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network stack, ensuring that all X.509 certificates are verified against trusted certificate authorities and that certificate chains are properly validated. The application should implement certificate pinning techniques to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates, and developers should adopt industry best practices for secure communication as outlined in NIST SP 800-52 and OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines. Additionally, the application should be updated to include proper error handling for certificate validation failures, and network security monitoring should be implemented to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection and monitoring tools to identify and respond to potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering, making comprehensive security measures essential for protecting against exploitation.