CVE-2014-7315 in Where Atlanta
Summary
by MITRE
The Where Atlanta (aka com.magzter.whereatlanta) application 3.0.2 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 • 10/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7315 affects the Where Atlanta mobile application version 3.0.2 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during network connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications between mobile clients and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing certificate validation mechanism within the application's SSL implementation, which directly violates established security protocols and industry standards. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation where the application fails to properly verify the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by servers. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby bypassing the intended security controls that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. This flaw exists at the core of the application's cryptographic security framework, undermining the fundamental principles of secure communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and backend servers. An attacker positioned within the network traffic can present a malicious certificate that the application accepts without proper validation, allowing them to decrypt and modify sensitive data transmitted by users. This includes personal information, login credentials, and potentially financial data that users might share through the application. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of communications, creating opportunities for data exfiltration, session hijacking, and other sophisticated attack vectors that align with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 and T1566 categories.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the root cause of inadequate certificate validation within the application's SSL implementation. The most effective approach involves implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms that validate server certificates against trusted certificate authorities or specific certificate fingerprints. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency checks and ensuring that the application uses secure SSL/TLS protocols with proper certificate validation routines. The fix requires updating the application code to include robust certificate verification logic that aligns with industry best practices for mobile application security and complies with standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other mobile applications and ensure comprehensive protection against man-in-the-middle attacks.