CVE-2014-7546 in Buddhist Prayer
Summary
by MITRE
The Buddhist Prayer (aka com.buddhist.prayer.mantra.sutra) application 3.0 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 • 10/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7546 affects the Buddhist Prayer application version 3.0 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of network communications. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust between mobile applications and remote servers in secure communications.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing certificate validation mechanism within the application's SSL implementation, allowing attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the mobile client and server infrastructure. This weakness enables man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can present fraudulent certificates to establish fake secure connections with the application. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communication implementations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data compression and encryption for data exfiltration. The application's failure to implement proper certificate pinning or validation creates an environment where attackers can intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and backend services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the application and potentially exposes users to various forms of attack. Mobile users who interact with the Buddhist Prayer application may unknowingly transmit sensitive information through compromised connections, including personal data, prayer requests, or other private communications that could be intercepted and read by malicious actors. The vulnerability affects not only the confidentiality of data in transit but also compromises the authenticity of server communications, making it possible for attackers to impersonate legitimate services and redirect users to malicious endpoints. This weakness is particularly concerning in mobile environments where network security cannot always be guaranteed, and users may connect through public Wi-Fi networks or other potentially compromised infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7546 require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The most effective approach involves implementing certificate pinning, which requires the application to maintain a trusted list of certificate fingerprints or public keys that must match the server's certificate during connection establishment. Additionally, the application should enforce strict certificate validation by verifying certificate chains against trusted root certificates and implementing proper hostname verification to ensure certificates match the expected server names. Security patches should also include implementing certificate revocation checking to detect and reject compromised certificates. Organizations should follow industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and consider implementing additional security controls like secure coding practices that align with OWASP Mobile Top 10 recommendations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the necessity of comprehensive security testing before deployment.