CVE-2014-7439 in bene+ odmeny a slevy
Summary
by MITRE
The bene+ odmeny a slevy (aka cz.gemoney.bene.android) application 1.2.3 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 CVE-2014-7439 vulnerability affects the bene+ odmeny a slevy Android application version 1.2.3, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The application fails to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, creating a significant security gap that exposes users to man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw specifically impacts the application's ability to establish secure communications with backend servers, potentially allowing attackers to intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and its servers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification during SSL/TLS connections. When the application establishes secure connections to its servers, it does not validate the server certificates against trusted certificate authorities or verify that the certificate matches the expected hostname. This weakness enables attackers to present maliciously crafted certificates that the application will accept without proper scrutiny. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core security mechanism of the application, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate servers and gain access to sensitive user information including personal data, financial details, and transaction records.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for both end users and the organization operating the application. Mobile banking and financial applications like bene+ odmeny a slevy handle highly sensitive information that requires robust security controls to maintain user trust and regulatory compliance. The man-in-the-middle attack vector allows adversaries to eavesdrop on communications, modify data in transit, or redirect users to malicious servers without detection. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted through the application, potentially leading to financial fraud, identity theft, and other serious security incidents. The attack surface is particularly wide given that the vulnerability affects a mobile application that likely handles financial transactions and personal user data.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7439 should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Organizations should ensure that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough certificate chain validation against trusted certificate authorities, implement hostname verification to confirm certificate legitimacy, and utilize secure cryptographic protocols. The solution involves updating the application code to properly validate server certificates, incorporating established security libraries that handle certificate validation correctly, and implementing certificate pinning where appropriate. Additionally, the application should be updated to use modern security practices that align with industry standards including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework for mobile application security. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing comprehensive security testing, particularly for applications handling sensitive user data. The fix requires careful attention to mobile security best practices and should be validated through proper security assessment procedures to ensure that the certificate validation mechanisms function correctly and prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases.