CVE-2014-7534 in Funny
Summary
by MITRE
The Funny & Interesting Things (aka com.wFunnyandInterestingThings) application 0.1 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 • 10/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7534 affects the Funny & Interesting Things Android application version 0.1, specifically targeting the application's handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This represents a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation that directly undermines the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is a well-documented weakness that has been consistently flagged by security frameworks and standards organizations.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during the establishment of secure connections. This omission means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary verification steps including checking certificate authorities, validating certificate chains, and ensuring proper domain name matching. The absence of certificate pinning or validation creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the mobile application and its backend services. This vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" through compromised secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables man-in-the-middle attackers to establish fraudulent connections with the application's servers. Attackers can create malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to intercept and potentially modify communications between the mobile client and backend services. This capability enables attackers to obtain sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, financial information, or any other data transmitted through the application's secure channels. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the fundamental security guarantee of encrypted communications, effectively nullifying the protection that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
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 certificates or certificate authorities rather than accepting any certificate from any authority. Additionally, the application should perform comprehensive certificate validation including checking certificate expiration dates, validating certificate chains, and ensuring proper hostname matching. Security professionals should also consider implementing certificate transparency checks and regular certificate rotation practices. Organizations should follow industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and consider adopting the OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure communication implementation. The vulnerability serves as a prime example of why mobile application developers must rigorously test cryptographic implementations and why security reviews should be conducted before application deployment to prevent such critical flaws from reaching end users.