CVE-2014-7333 in Aloha Guide
Summary
by MITRE
The Aloha Guide (aka com.aloha.guide.japnese) application 1.3 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-2014-7333 affects the Aloha Guide Android application version 1.3, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue represents a critical failure in the application's certificate validation mechanism, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure network communications. The flaw exists within the application's handling of SSL/TLS connections, where it fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by remote servers during the establishment of secure connections.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's lack of proper certificate verification procedures during SSL handshakes. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should validate the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the authenticity of the server. This process involves checking certificate signatures, verifying certificate expiration dates, and ensuring the certificate chain is properly established. The Aloha Guide application bypasses these essential validation steps, creating a security gap that allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship between client and server.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for "Encrypted Channels: Asymmetric Cryptography." The implications of this flaw are severe as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications between the Android application and its intended servers. Attackers can generate and present fake certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to decrypt and modify sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass complete session hijacking capabilities. An attacker positioned between the user and the server can transparently decrypt all communications, potentially accessing personal information, login credentials, or other sensitive data that the application processes. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of secure mobile applications and creates persistent risks for users who rely on the application for legitimate purposes. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to adversaries with basic networking knowledge.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that all SSL/TLS connections validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates, implement certificate pinning where appropriate, and avoid using custom certificate validation logic that bypasses standard security checks. The application should enforce strict certificate validation procedures including signature verification, expiration date checks, and proper certificate chain building. Additionally, implementing certificate pinning techniques can provide an extra layer of protection by associating specific certificate fingerprints with the application, preventing attackers from using forged certificates even if they can bypass standard validation checks. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and alert on suspicious certificate usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.