CVE-2014-7407 in Game Day Tix
Summary
by MITRE
The Game Day Tix (aka com.xcr.android.mygamedaytickets) application 2.4 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-2014-7407 affects the Game Day Tix Android application version 2.4, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue represents a critical failure in the application's cryptographic security measures, where the software neglects to validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant security gap that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting maliciously crafted certificates to establish fraudulent connections with the application, effectively breaking the trust model that secure communications rely upon. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between the mobile application and its backend servers, potentially compromising user credentials, personal information, and sensitive transaction data.
This technical flaw constitutes a fundamental failure in certificate validation practices that aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation. The vulnerability exists within the application's SSL/TLS implementation where it fails to properly verify the authenticity of server certificates against trusted certificate authorities. The absence of certificate pinning or proper validation mechanisms means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its legitimacy or trustworthiness. This weakness provides attackers with multiple attack vectors including SSL stripping, certificate substitution, and impersonation techniques that can be executed without requiring advanced technical skills or significant resources. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices that violate fundamental principles of secure communication as outlined in industry standards and best practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive surveillance and data manipulation capabilities for attackers. When users interact with the application, their sensitive information flows through connections that lack proper cryptographic validation, making it susceptible to theft, modification, or complete compromise. The vulnerability affects all communication channels within the application that rely on SSL/TLS protocols, including user authentication, data transmission, and transaction processing. Attackers can leverage this weakness to conduct persistent surveillance of user activities, capture login credentials, and potentially manipulate application functionality. The impact is particularly severe given that mobile applications often handle highly sensitive personal and financial data, making this vulnerability especially dangerous in the context of mobile banking, ticketing, or social networking applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms and adherence to established security frameworks. Organizations should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that applications only accept specific certificates or certificate authorities, preventing attackers from substituting malicious certificates. The application should be updated to include proper SSL/TLS certificate verification routines that validate certificate chains against trusted root authorities and check for certificate expiration dates and hostname matching. Security measures should also include implementing certificate revocation checking and establishing secure communication protocols that enforce strict certificate validation policies. Additionally, the application should be designed with security in mind from the development phase, incorporating proper cryptographic libraries and following industry standards such as those recommended by NIST and OWASP. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities, while comprehensive security training for development teams should emphasize secure coding practices and the importance of cryptographic security implementation. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper certificate validation and the severe consequences that can result from neglecting fundamental security principles in mobile application development.