CVE-2014-7406 in University
Summary
by MITRE
The Deakin University (aka com.desire2learn.campuslife.deakin.edu.au.directory) application 1.1.729.1694 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-2014-7406 affects the Deakin University mobile application for Android platforms, specifically version 1.1.729.1694. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications protocols, where the software fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates presented by remote servers. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise the integrity of data transmission between the mobile application and its backend services.
This vulnerability stems from improper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms within the Android application's network communication stack. The application essentially disables the standard certificate pinning and validation processes that are fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications. According to CWE-295, this flaw corresponds to improper certificate validation, where the software fails to properly validate the authenticity of SSL certificates. The vulnerability creates an environment where attackers can perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby bypassing the security measures designed to protect sensitive user data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly for an educational institution's mobile application that likely handles sensitive student information, academic records, and personal data. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and potentially modify data transmitted between the mobile application and Deakin University's servers, including login credentials, personal information, academic records, and communication data. The attack vector leverages the fundamental trust model of SSL/TLS protocols, where the application's failure to verify certificate authenticity allows malicious actors to establish fraudulent secure connections. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes data compression and encryption for exfiltration, as attackers can now more easily intercept and manipulate transmitted data without detection.
The implications extend beyond simple data interception to include potential identity theft, unauthorized access to academic systems, and compromise of institutional data integrity. Students and staff using the application may unknowingly transmit sensitive information to attacker-controlled servers, believing they are communicating with legitimate Deakin University services. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity of communications, violating fundamental security principles. Organizations should note that this type of flaw often indicates broader architectural issues in mobile application security implementation, where proper cryptographic practices and secure coding standards are not adequately enforced. The absence of certificate validation represents a critical failure in the application's security architecture that directly undermines the trust model essential for secure mobile communications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and network attacks. Mitigation efforts should focus on implementing proper certificate validation, certificate pinning, and comprehensive security testing of mobile applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future deployments.