CVE-2014-7372 in Mr. Sausage
Summary
by MITRE
The Mr.Sausage (aka com.app_mrsausage.layout) application 1.301 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 • 10/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7372 affects the Mr.Sausage Android application version 1.301, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The application fails to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communication sessions, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise user data and system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to implement proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or trust anchor checking. When the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it accepts any certificate presented without performing the necessary cryptographic verification steps that ensure the certificate's authenticity and validity. This vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attackers to intercept communications by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The attack typically involves the adversary positioning themselves between the user and the legitimate server, intercepting and modifying traffic while maintaining the appearance of secure communication to the end user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model that users expect from secure mobile applications. Attackers can exploit this flaw to obtain sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications transmitted through the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may be accessing sensitive services over public networks, making the attack surface significantly larger. From an adversarial perspective, this weakness aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 category of Network Service Scanning and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to create convincing fake server presentations that bypass standard security measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should ensure that all certificate verification processes include chain validation, hostname checking against the certificate, and validation against trusted certificate authorities. The application must implement proper certificate pinning where appropriate, and should utilize platform-provided security libraries rather than custom implementations that may introduce additional weaknesses. Security audits should be conducted to identify all network communication points within the application that require certificate validation, and the implementation should be tested against various certificate scenarios including expired certificates, self-signed certificates, and certificates from untrusted authorities. Regular security updates and monitoring of certificate validation processes should be established to prevent similar issues from reoccurring in future versions of the application.