CVE-2014-7424 in Quran Abu Bakr AshShatiri Free
Summary
by MITRE
The Quran Abu Bakr AshShatiri Free (aka com.wQuranAbuBakrFREE) application 1.0 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-2014-7424 affects the Quran Abu Bakr AshShatiri Free Android application version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This issue resides in 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 integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification mechanism that should ensure the authenticity of servers communicating with the mobile application, thereby undermining the fundamental security principles of encrypted communications.
From a technical perspective, the flaw constitutes a failure in the SSL/TLS certificate validation process where the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper verification of the certificate chain, issuer, or cryptographic validity. This represents a direct violation of standard security protocols and aligns with CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security implementations. The absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate chain validation allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The application's trust model is fundamentally compromised, as it cannot distinguish between legitimate servers and malicious actors who have successfully spoofed server identities through certificate manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user privacy and potentially lead to broader security breaches. Attackers can exploit this weakness to decrypt and modify communications between the mobile application and its backend servers, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information, authentication credentials, or other confidential data that the application processes. The vulnerability affects users who rely on the application for religious content delivery, potentially exposing them to unauthorized access to their personal usage patterns, device information, or any data exchanged with the application's servers. This represents a significant risk in mobile security contexts where applications handle personal or sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network security layer. The recommended approach involves enforcing proper certificate chain validation, implementing certificate pinning techniques, and ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections undergo thorough verification of certificate authenticity. Security practitioners should also consider implementing additional layers of protection such as certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits of the application's cryptographic implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of adhering to security best practices outlined in industry standards and frameworks that emphasize the necessity of proper certificate validation to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and maintain the integrity of secure communications in mobile applications. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts targeting this type of vulnerability.