CVE-2014-7375 in Childcare
Summary
by MITRE
The Childcare (aka com.app_macchildcare.layout) application 1.399 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-2014-7375 affects the Childcare application version 1.399 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, leaving users exposed to potential data interception and manipulation. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation mechanisms that directly undermines the integrity of secure communications. The flaw allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby compromising the confidentiality and authenticity of data transmitted between the mobile device and remote servers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's cryptographic security architecture. When the Childcare application establishes SSL connections to its backend services, it bypasses the standard certificate verification process that should validate the server's identity against trusted certificate authorities. This omission creates a trust relationship that can be easily exploited by attackers who possess the capability to intercept network traffic and present malicious certificates. The vulnerability essentially removes the cryptographic verification step that ensures server authenticity, allowing attackers to establish connections that appear legitimate to the application while actually routing traffic through attacker-controlled intermediaries. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1573.002 (Encrypted Channel) and T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel), as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive data through compromised communication channels.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7375 extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of users who rely on the Childcare application for sensitive information handling. Given that this application appears to be designed for childcare management, users may be transmitting confidential information about children, families, and institutional data through these vulnerable connections. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to personal identifiable information, medical records, attendance data, and other sensitive details that could be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious purposes. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple network sessions means that once exploited, attackers can maintain access to sensitive data over extended periods. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where mobile applications often handle confidential data, making the vulnerability a significant concern for organizations that deploy such applications without proper security controls. The lack of certificate verification creates a persistent threat that can be exploited across all SSL connections within the application, potentially affecting all data transmission scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7375 require both immediate application-level fixes and broader security architecture improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms that validate server certificates against known good certificates or public key fingerprints, rather than relying solely on the standard certificate chain validation process. Organizations should also implement certificate validation that checks certificate validity periods, revocation status through CRL or OCSP, and ensures certificates are issued by trusted authorities. From a defensive standpoint, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual certificate behavior or connection patterns that might indicate man-in-the-middle attacks. Additionally, the application should be updated to enforce strict SSL/TLS protocol versions and cipher suite selection to prevent downgrade attacks. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized certificate interception attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST mobile security guidelines, particularly regarding secure communication implementation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar certificate validation flaws in other mobile applications within the organization's portfolio.