CVE-2014-7529 in Bodyguard for Hire
Summary
by MITRE
The Bodyguard for Hire (aka com.dreamstep.wBodyGuardforHire) application 0.18.13146.42280 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-2014-7529 affects the Bodyguard for Hire Android application version 0.18.13146.42280, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The application's insecure certificate verification mechanism directly violates fundamental security principles governing secure network communications and represents a clear deviation from established best practices for mobile application security.
The technical flaw stems from the application's improper handling of SSL certificate validation processes, specifically failing to perform certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor checking. This vulnerability falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, where adversaries establish fraudulent communication channels to intercept and manipulate data flows. The implementation error allows attackers to present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to establish trusted connections with compromised endpoints while remaining undetected by the application's security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates opportunities for comprehensive man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user credentials, personal information, and sensitive communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect traffic through malicious servers, potentially capturing login credentials, financial information, or other confidential data transmitted through the application. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the application, undermining user trust and potentially exposing users to identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities. Given that this is a mobile application handling potentially sensitive user data, the consequences of successful exploitation can be particularly severe.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7529 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Organizations should implement strict certificate pinning techniques, ensuring that the application only accepts certificates from trusted authorities and specific certificate fingerprints. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to perform comprehensive certificate chain validation, hostname matching, and trust verification before establishing any SSL connections. Security patches should enforce proper X.509 certificate validation routines, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate signatures, and ensuring certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency mechanisms and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases, aligning with industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management and SSL/TLS protocol implementation best practices.