CVE-2014-7544 in Secret City - Motion Comic
Summary
by MITRE
The Secret City - Motion Comic (aka me.narr8.android.serial.the_secret_city) application 2.1.7 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-2014-7544 affects the Secret City - Motion Comic Android application version 2.1.7, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper certificate validation as classified by CWE-295, which specifically addresses the failure to validate certificates in secure communications. The application's insecure implementation of SSL/TLS security protocols exposes users to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can establish fraudulent server connections and intercept sensitive user data.
The technical flaw manifests when the Android application establishes secure connections to remote servers without performing proper certificate chain validation. This insecure practice allows attackers to generate and present crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the application, bypassing the intended security measures designed to protect user communications. The vulnerability directly enables attackers to impersonate legitimate servers and potentially capture user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data transmitted through the application's network connections. This weakness represents a fundamental failure in the application's cryptographic security implementation and violates established security best practices for mobile application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that secure communications rely upon. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create an environment where attackers can transparently monitor and manipulate user sessions, potentially leading to identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to personal accounts. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, creating a widespread security risk that persists until the application is updated to implement proper certificate validation. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where applications often handle sensitive personal information and financial transactions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7544 require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation within the application's network communication layer. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that the application only accepts specific certificates or certificate authorities, preventing attackers from using fraudulent certificates. The recommended approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which focuses on network service scanning and exploitation of weak cryptographic implementations. Security updates should include proper certificate validation using Android's built-in certificate verification mechanisms, and developers should consider implementing additional security measures such as certificate transparency checks. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their mobile applications and ensure compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and secure communications protocols.