CVE-2014-7467 in HoneyBee Mag
Summary
by MITRE
The HoneyBee Mag (aka com.magzter.honeybeemag) application 3.0 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 • 10/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7467 affects the HoneyBee Mag Android application version 3.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security of data transmission between the mobile device and backend services.
This vulnerability constitutes a serious breakdown in the application's cryptographic security implementation, specifically in the certificate validation process that should occur during SSL handshakes. The absence of proper certificate verification means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or legitimacy. This behavior creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where attackers can intercept communications by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear valid to the vulnerable application. The flaw is categorized under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, making it a well-documented weakness in secure communication protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it allows attackers to obtain sensitive information through crafted certificates that can masquerade as legitimate servers. Mobile applications that rely on secure communications for user data, financial transactions, or confidential information exchange become particularly vulnerable when they fail to properly validate SSL certificates. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking, capture user credentials, access private communications, or manipulate application data flows. The vulnerability affects the core security principle of authentication, as the application cannot reliably verify the identity of the servers it connects to, potentially exposing users to various forms of cyber attacks.
The implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering or direct interception. Organizations and users should consider implementing additional security measures such as network monitoring to detect unusual certificate behavior or implementing application layer firewalls that can detect and block suspicious certificate exchanges. The recommended mitigations include updating the application to a version that properly implements certificate validation, implementing certificate pinning mechanisms, and conducting regular security assessments of mobile applications to identify similar flaws in certificate handling implementations. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the necessity of adhering to established security standards such as those defined by NIST and OWASP for secure mobile development practices.