CVE-2014-7445 in LEGEND OF TRANCE
Summary
by MITRE
The LEGEND OF TRANCE (aka com.legendoftrance) 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-2014-7445 affects the LEGEND OF TRANCE Android application version 1.0, presenting a critical security flaw in its implementation of secure communication protocols. This application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle (MITM) assaults. The flaw resides in the application's cryptographic implementation where it accepts any certificate without performing the necessary verification steps that should confirm the authenticity and integrity of SSL servers. This absence of certificate validation represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, as it undermines the core principles of secure communication that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly implement certificate pinning or validation mechanisms that are standard requirements for secure mobile applications. When an Android application establishes an SSL connection, it should verify that the server's certificate is issued by a trusted Certificate Authority and that it matches the expected hostname. The LEGEND OF TRANCE application bypasses these critical checks, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness can be exploited through various attack vectors including rogue Wi-Fi networks, compromised public networks, or DNS hijacking scenarios where attackers can intercept and modify traffic between the mobile device and legitimate servers. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be enforced in mobile application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive information that users may transmit through the application. This includes but is not limited to personal identification data, login credentials, financial information, or any other data that the application may collect or transmit over network connections. Mobile applications that handle user data, especially those in gaming or social platforms, become particularly vulnerable since they often require users to authenticate and maintain persistent sessions. The attack surface is further expanded because the vulnerability affects the entire communication channel, potentially allowing attackers to not only read transmitted data but also modify it, inject malicious content, or redirect users to fraudulent endpoints. This creates a persistent threat that can compromise user accounts, steal personal information, and potentially lead to identity theft or financial fraud.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques that explicitly define which certificates or certificate authorities are trusted for the application's connections. The application must validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates and verify that the certificate's subject matches the expected hostname. Additionally, the implementation should include proper error handling for certificate validation failures and should not proceed with connections when certificate verification fails. Security best practices recommend implementing certificate transparency checks and using secure communication libraries that properly handle SSL/TLS validation. Organizations should also consider implementing network security monitoring to detect potential MITM attacks and establish secure development lifecycle practices that include security code reviews and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities before deployment. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of adhering to the ATT&CK framework's network security principles and demonstrates the necessity of robust cryptographic implementation in mobile applications.