CVE-2014-7468 in AG Klettern Odenwald
Summary
by MITRE
The AG Klettern Odenwald (aka de.appack.project.agko) application 1.2 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-2014-7468 affects the AG Klettern Odenwald mobile application version 1.2 for android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant weakness in the security architecture that exposes users to sophisticated cyber threats. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing secure communication channels between mobile applications and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests as the absence of proper certificate chain validation and trust verification mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When an Android application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it should validate the server's X.509 certificate against trusted certificate authorities to ensure the authenticity of the connection. However, this application bypasses these essential validation steps, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness directly violates established security protocols and undermines the entire SSL/TLS security framework that modern mobile applications rely upon for protecting sensitive data transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user data and system integrity. Attackers can exploit this flaw by intercepting communications between the mobile application and its backend servers, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information including personal data, login credentials, and any other information transmitted through the insecure connection. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects applications that may handle confidential user information, making it attractive to cybercriminals seeking to exploit mobile applications for unauthorized data access and potential identity theft.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1041 for Exfiltration Over C2 Channel and T1566 for Phishing. The lack of certificate verification creates an attack surface that enables adversaries to establish false trust relationships with mobile applications, potentially leading to data breaches and unauthorized access to backend systems. Organizations deploying mobile applications must understand that this vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in security implementation that requires immediate remediation to prevent exploitation by threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require comprehensive code review and implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms. The application must be updated to enforce strict certificate chain validation, including verification of certificate signatures, expiration dates, and trust relationships with recognized certificate authorities. Security professionals should implement certificate pinning techniques where appropriate, and ensure that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough validation before establishing secure communication channels. Regular security testing and code audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other mobile applications, as this vulnerability represents a common flaw in mobile security implementations that affects numerous applications across various platforms and industries.