CVE-2014-7420 in Just Bureaucracy
Summary
by MITRE
The Just Bureaucracy (aka com.magzter.justbureaucracy) application 3.0.1 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 • 10/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7420 affects the Just Bureaucracy Android application version 3.0.1, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, making it a direct descendant of the well-known weakness in certificate trust validation processes. The application's insecure implementation of SSL certificate verification represents a fundamental failure in establishing secure communication channels, which is particularly concerning given that the application likely handles sensitive user information or business data through its network connections.
The technical flaw manifests when the application establishes SSL connections to remote servers without performing proper certificate chain validation or hostname verification. This allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The certificate validation process typically involves checking certificate signatures, verifying certificate authorities, ensuring certificate expiration dates, and confirming that the certificate's hostname matches the server being connected to. In this case, the application bypasses these essential verification steps, leaving users exposed to potential data interception, modification, or theft. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security level and directly impacts the application's ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between the mobile device and remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass comprehensive security compromise of user sessions and sensitive information exchanges. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and manipulate communications, potentially accessing user credentials, personal information, or business data that the application processes. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, creating a widespread security risk across the user base. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile applications where users may be accessing sensitive information on public networks, as the attack can occur without the user's knowledge or consent. The compromised application essentially becomes a conduit for malicious traffic, undermining the trust model that secure mobile applications should maintain with their users.
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 certificates or certificate authorities rather than accepting any valid certificate from any CA. Additionally, the application must enforce strict hostname verification to ensure that certificates are only accepted for the intended domains. Security patches should include proper implementation of certificate chain validation, including signature verification, expiration date checks, and revocation status verification through mechanisms like CRL or OCSP. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate certificate manipulation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes data manipulation during transit, and highlights the importance of maintaining secure communication channels as outlined in the OWASP Mobile Top 10 security framework. The fix should involve comprehensive code review of all SSL/TLS implementation components and thorough testing to ensure that certificate validation operates correctly across different network conditions and certificate scenarios.