CVE-2014-7382 in Alternative Connection
Summary
by MITRE
The Alternative Connection (aka com.wAlternativeConnection) application 0.1 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-2014-7382 affects the Alternative Connection Android application version 0.1, representing a critical security flaw in certificate validation mechanisms. This issue falls under the category of weak cryptographic practices and improper certificate verification, which directly undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by SSL/TLS protocols. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates creates an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process during SSL connections, where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper validation against trusted certificate authorities. This weakness enables attackers to generate or obtain fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, thereby compromising the integrity of secure communications.
From a technical perspective, the flaw represents a failure in the certificate chain validation process that should normally occur during SSL handshakes. The application's implementation lacks proper certificate pinning mechanisms and fails to validate certificate signatures against trusted root certificates stored in the device's trust store. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and demonstrates a clear violation of secure coding practices for cryptographic implementations. The absence of certificate verification creates a pathway for attackers to intercept and manipulate encrypted communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The attacker can present a malicious certificate that appears to be from a legitimate server, causing the application to establish a connection without proper authentication. This issue is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may be accessing sensitive information through unsecured networks, making the attack surface significantly larger than traditional desktop environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user credentials, personal information, and sensitive communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking, data exfiltration, and credential theft against users of the affected application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in contexts where the application handles financial transactions, personal data, or corporate information, as it essentially removes the security layer that SSL/TLS is designed to provide. Users may unknowingly transmit sensitive data to malicious servers that impersonate legitimate services, leading to potential financial loss, identity theft, or corporate espionage. The attack vector is relatively simple to execute, requiring only the ability to intercept network traffic and present a forged certificate, making it accessible to attackers with moderate technical skills. This vulnerability also violates fundamental principles outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, particularly concerning the proper implementation of secure communication protocols on mobile platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the core issue of certificate validation within the application. The primary solution involves implementing proper certificate verification mechanisms that validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates and check for valid signatures and expiration dates. The application should implement certificate pinning to prevent the use of fraudulent certificates even if they are signed by trusted authorities. Security patches should enforce strict certificate validation procedures that align with industry standards such as those defined in RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate validation. Network security controls should include monitoring for unusual certificate behavior and implementing proper logging of certificate validation failures. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as mutual authentication and secure key management practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing that includes certificate validation scenarios. Regular security assessments and code reviews should specifically target cryptographic implementations to prevent similar issues from arising in future versions of the application.