CVE-2014-7470 in I Know the Movie
Summary
by MITRE
The I Know the Movie (aka com.guilardi.jesaislefilm2) application jesais_film_android_1.1 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-2014-7470 affects the I Know the Movie Android application version 1.1, specifically targeting the application's SSL certificate verification mechanism. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the mobile application's cryptographic implementation, where the software fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, making it a well-documented weakness in cryptographic implementations.
The technical flaw manifests when the application establishes secure connections to remote servers without performing proper certificate chain validation or hostname verification. This means that when the application communicates with its backend services, it accepts any SSL certificate presented by the server regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. Attackers can exploit this by presenting a fraudulent certificate that appears legitimate to the user interface but is actually controlled by the attacker. The vulnerability enables adversaries to intercept and potentially modify all communications between the mobile application and its servers, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive user data. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles of secure communication and authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete session hijacking and credential compromise. Mobile applications that rely on secure communications for user authentication, personal data handling, or financial transactions become particularly vulnerable when they lack proper certificate verification. Users of the I Know the Movie application may unknowingly transmit personal information, login credentials, or other sensitive data through compromised channels. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain secure communication channels, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate services and gain unauthorized access to user accounts or personal information. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may connect through unsecured public networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The fix involves implementing robust certificate pinning, where the application explicitly trusts specific certificate authorities or certificate fingerprints rather than accepting any certificate from any authority. Security measures should include hostname verification, certificate chain validation, and proper error handling for certificate validation failures. Organizations should adopt industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, specifically addressing secure communication practices and certificate handling. The remediation process should also include implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits to ensure proper cryptographic implementation. Additionally, the application should be updated to use modern secure communication protocols that enforce certificate validation as part of their standard operation, aligning with best practices established in the NIST SP 800-52 standard for certificate management and the MITRE ATT&CK framework's network security evasion techniques that leverage unverified certificates for attack purposes.