CVE-2014-7392 in Russian Federation Traffic Rules
Summary
by MITRE
The Russian Federation Traffic Rules (aka com.russia.pdd) application 1.21 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 • 10/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7392 affects the Russian Federation Traffic Rules application version 1.21 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The flaw specifically manifests in the application's inability to verify the authenticity and trustworthiness of SSL certificates presented by remote servers, which is a fundamental requirement for establishing secure communication channels in mobile applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the realm of cryptographic protocol failures and certificate validation issues, aligning with CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation. The application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation means that attackers can successfully perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. This weakness allows malicious actors to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile device and remote servers, potentially compromising user privacy and data security. The vulnerability essentially disables the security mechanisms that should protect against unauthorized access and data interception during network communications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to users of the Russian Federation Traffic Rules application, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of secure mobile communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to sensitive user information, including personal data, authentication credentials, or other confidential information that may be transmitted through the application's network connections. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to potential identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities that could be facilitated through the compromised communication channels. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also potentially exposes the application developers and service providers to liability and reputational damage due to the security failures in their mobile application implementation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network security framework. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to perform comprehensive X.509 certificate validation including certificate chain verification, hostname checking, and trust anchor validation against established certificate authorities. Security measures should also include implementing certificate pinning where appropriate to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates, even when they appear to be valid from a technical standpoint. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and respond to potential man-in-the-middle attacks, while ensuring that all network communications are properly encrypted and authenticated. The remediation process requires thorough code review and security testing to ensure that certificate validation is properly implemented and that the application maintains secure communication practices in accordance with industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security.