CVE-2014-7527 in Mobile Web
Summary
by MITRE
The Savage Nation Mobile Web (aka com.wSavageNation) application 0.57.13354.63350 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 • 10/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7527 affects the Savage Nation Mobile Web application version 0.57.13354.63350 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 attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification mechanism that should ensure the authenticity of SSL servers and establish secure communication channels between mobile clients and web services.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation within the application's SSL implementation, which directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in industry standards such as CWE-295. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The absence of proper certificate chain validation means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This flaw enables attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile application and backend services, including user credentials, personal data, and confidential communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the mobile application and creates multiple attack vectors for threat actors. According to ATT&CK framework category T1046, this vulnerability enables network service discovery and can be exploited to establish persistent access points within targeted environments. The implications are particularly severe for mobile applications that handle sensitive user information, as attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to personal accounts, financial data, or proprietary information. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizations that rely on the application for business-critical operations, potentially leading to data breaches, identity theft, and regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS stack. Security practitioners should ensure that the application validates certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities, checks certificate expiration dates, and performs hostname verification to prevent certificate spoofing attacks. The implementation should follow established security guidelines such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and TLS configuration. Additionally, developers should implement certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate to further strengthen the security posture against certificate-based attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that certificate validation mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack techniques and that the application maintains proper cryptographic security practices throughout its lifecycle.