CVE-2014-7413 in Rajendra Suriji
Summary
by MITRE
The Rajendra Suriji (aka com.rajendrasuriji.nakodabhairav.com) 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 • 10/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7413 affects the Rajendra Suriji Android application version 1.1, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This application, designed for mobile devices, fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during network communications, creating a significant security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw resides in the application's certificate verification mechanism, which is essential for establishing trust between the mobile client and remote servers. According to CWE-295, this represents a critical weakness in certificate validation where the application does not properly validate the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by servers. The vulnerability manifests when the application accepts any certificate without performing the necessary cryptographic checks that would normally verify the certificate's validity and trust chain.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. This occurs because the application bypasses the standard certificate validation procedures that would normally check certificate signatures, expiration dates, and trust relationships with recognized certificate authorities. The absence of proper certificate pinning or validation means that an attacker positioned between the mobile device and the server can intercept and modify communications without detection. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002, which describes the use of unencrypted or improperly encrypted network communications to capture or manipulate data in transit. The application's failure to implement proper certificate validation creates a trust boundary that can be easily compromised, allowing attackers to establish false connections and potentially access sensitive user data or system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the application and its users. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates expose users to various attack vectors including credential theft, data manipulation, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of communications between the mobile application and backend services, potentially allowing attackers to capture login credentials, personal information, or financial data transmitted through the application. Users may unknowingly interact with malicious servers that present forged certificates, believing they are communicating securely with legitimate services. This flaw can be exploited across various attack scenarios including credential harvesting, session hijacking, and data exfiltration, making it particularly dangerous in applications that handle sensitive user information or financial transactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing certificate pinning, where the application explicitly trusts specific certificate fingerprints or public keys rather than relying on the entire certificate chain. This technique prevents attackers from using forged certificates even if they can obtain valid certificates from trusted authorities. Additionally, the application should enforce strict certificate validation procedures that verify certificate signatures, expiration dates, and the complete certificate chain back to a trusted root authority. Security measures should include implementing proper error handling for certificate validation failures and ensuring that the application terminates connections when certificate validation fails. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual certificate behavior and establish secure communication protocols that align with industry standards such as those defined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management. The remediation process must address both the immediate vulnerability and establish long-term security practices to prevent similar issues in future application versions.