CVE-2014-7380 in Cedar Kiosk
Summary
by MITRE
The Cedar Kiosk (aka com.apps2you.cedarkiosk) application 1.1 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 • 10/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7380 affects the Cedar Kiosk Android application version 1.1, 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 weakness in the security architecture that exposes users to sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers.
This technical flaw constitutes a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation and certificate validation mechanisms, directly violating established security protocols for secure network communication. The absence of proper certificate verification allows attackers to exploit the trust model by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications between the kiosk application and its backend services, potentially compromising sensitive data transmission and system integrity. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing the improper validation of certificate authorities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of any system relying on the Cedar Kiosk application for secure operations. Attackers exploiting this weakness can gain unauthorized access to sensitive information transmitted through the application, potentially including user credentials, personal data, financial information, or proprietary business data. The implications are particularly severe for kiosk deployments where the application might handle confidential transactions or access restricted systems, as the vulnerability could enable full compromise of the targeted services. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact method for gaining unauthorized access to systems, making it an attractive target for malicious actors.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the ATT&CK framework's credential access and defense evasion techniques, as the compromised certificate validation creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access and evade detection mechanisms. The vulnerability also aligns with the broader category of insecure communication practices that affect mobile applications, particularly those deployed in public or shared environments where kiosk functionality is utilized. Organizations using this application should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, enhanced network monitoring, and comprehensive security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms that align with industry standards and best practices for mobile application security, ensuring that all communications between the kiosk application and remote servers maintain appropriate cryptographic integrity and authentication.