CVE-2014-7478 in nashaplaneta.su
Summary
by MITRE
The nashaplaneta.su (aka com.wNashaPlaneta) application 1.02 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 • 10/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7478 represents a critical security flaw in the nashaplaneta.su Android application version 1.02, specifically targeting the application's handling of secure communications. This issue falls under the category of improper certificate verification, which is a fundamental weakness in cryptographic security implementations. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile client and backend services. This flaw directly violates established security principles that require robust certificate validation to prevent unauthorized parties from establishing fraudulent secure connections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to perform proper SSL certificate validation during the secure communication establishment process. When the Android application attempts to connect to remote servers using SSL/TLS protocols, it does not verify the authenticity of the server's X.509 certificate against trusted certificate authorities. This allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in certificate validation mechanisms, aligning with CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation. The application's trust model is fundamentally flawed as it accepts any certificate without proper verification, creating an environment where attackers can intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass complete compromise of user privacy and data integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications that should be protected through secure channels. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific Android application version, creating a widespread security risk that could potentially lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities. The man-in-the-middle attack vector allows adversaries to not only read communications but also modify data in transit, potentially redirecting users to malicious websites or injecting harmful content into legitimate applications. This represents a significant breach of the security assurances that users expect when communicating through secure channels, undermining trust in the application and the organization responsible for its development.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing certificate pinning techniques where the application explicitly trusts specific certificate authorities or certificate fingerprints rather than relying on the default trust store. This approach aligns with best practices outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and follows the principle of least privilege in security implementations. The application should also implement proper SSL certificate validation routines that verify certificate chains against trusted root certificates and check for certificate expiration dates, revocation status, and proper domain matching. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits to detect potential certificate-related vulnerabilities. The fix requires modifications to the application's network security configuration and should be tested thoroughly to ensure that legitimate communications remain functional while malicious certificate attacks are properly prevented. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the severe consequences of inadequate security controls in mobile applications.