CVE-2014-7523 in Radio Bethlehem RB2000
Summary
by MITRE
The Radio Bethlehem RB2000 (aka com.Abuhadbah.rbl2000v2) 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 • 10/09/2024
The CVE-2014-7523 vulnerability affects the Radio Bethlehem RB2000 Android application version 1.0 which fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. This critical security flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's cryptographic security implementation, creating a pathway for sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process within the application's secure communication framework, leaving users exposed to potential data interception and manipulation.
This weakness constitutes a classic implementation flaw in SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms, aligning with CWE-295 which addresses improper certificate validation. The application's failure to properly validate server certificates means that attackers can present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the client application, enabling them to establish fake secure connections. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security validation level, where proper certificate chain verification should occur but fails to do so, creating an insecure communication channel that undermines the fundamental security properties of SSL/TLS protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete compromise of user privacy and application integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and modify sensitive information transmitted through the application, potentially accessing personal data, authentication credentials, or proprietary information. The vulnerability affects any communication channel that relies on SSL/TLS encryption within the application, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling financial data, personal information, or confidential communications. This flaw represents a significant risk to user security and could enable large-scale data breaches or identity theft operations.
Organizations and users should immediately implement mitigation strategies including disabling the vulnerable application until a patched version is available, implementing network-level monitoring to detect potential certificate manipulation attempts, and establishing proper certificate pinning mechanisms where feasible. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and demonstrates how a single missing validation step can completely undermine security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and defense evasion, as attackers can leverage the insecure connections to harvest credentials or manipulate application data. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.