CVE-2014-7434 in RTSinfo
Summary
by MITRE
The RTSinfo (aka ch.rts.rtsinfo) application 1.4.8 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.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2024
The CVE-2014-7434 vulnerability affects the RTSinfo Android application version 1.4.8, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This vulnerability falls under the category of insecure cryptographic implementation as classified by CWE-310, specifically addressing the improper validation of X.509 certificates during secure communications. The application fails to properly verify the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by servers, creating a significant security gap that exposes users to potential man-in-the-middle attacks.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation procedures when establishing secure connections to remote servers. This weakness allows attackers to intercept communications between the Android application and its backend services by presenting forged SSL certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security level, specifically targeting the certificate verification process that should normally ensure the identity of the server being connected to. Attackers can exploit this by setting up rogue servers with malicious certificates that the application will accept as valid, thereby enabling them to eavesdrop on communications, inject malicious content, or redirect users to fraudulent endpoints.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that secure communications rely upon. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create a dangerous environment where sensitive user information, including personal data, authentication credentials, and potentially financial information, becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access. This weakness can be leveraged by threat actors to perform credential harvesting, data exfiltration, or to deliver malware through compromised communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in the mobile security context as it affects the application's ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity of communications, which are core security requirements defined by the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with the techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 category of Network Service Scanning, where adversaries can exploit the lack of proper certificate validation to establish fraudulent connections. The vulnerability also relates to T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and network attacks, as attackers can use the compromised communication channels to gather user credentials. Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest version of the application where the certificate validation has been properly implemented, and administrators should consider network-level protections such as SSL/TLS inspection and certificate pinning enforcement. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security implementation in mobile applications and demonstrates the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10, specifically addressing the M3 category of Insecure Communication which directly relates to improper certificate validation in mobile applications.