CVE-2014-7563 in Tactical Force LLC
Summary
by MITRE
The Tactical Force LLC (aka com.conduit.app_69f61a8852b046f2846054b30c4032a7.app) application 1.9.23.276 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 • 10/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7563 represents a critical security flaw in the Tactical Force LLC Android application version 1.9.23.276 which operates under the package name com.conduit.app_69f61a8852b046f2846054b30c4032a7.app. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications, creating a significant security risk that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability manifests when the application establishes secure connections to backend services, leaving users exposed to sophisticated attack vectors that compromise the fundamental security assumptions of encrypted communications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295 which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols. The application's implementation lacks proper certificate chain validation mechanisms, failing to verify the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by remote servers. This deficiency allows malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The flaw operates at the transport layer security validation level, where the application should be performing certificate pinning, hostname verification, and trust chain validation but instead accepts any certificate that can establish a TLS connection, effectively neutralizing the security benefits of SSL/TLS encryption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, encompassing a broad spectrum of potential security breaches that could compromise user privacy and organizational assets. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive user information including personal data, login credentials, and confidential communications transmitted through the application. The implications are particularly severe given that this affects a mobile application that likely handles user accounts and potentially sensitive business data, creating opportunities for credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. The vulnerability also enables attackers to manipulate application functionality by redirecting traffic to malicious endpoints while maintaining the appearance of legitimate communication.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1041, which involves data exfiltration through encrypted channels, and T1566 which encompasses social engineering attacks that leverage compromised applications. The attack surface expands significantly as this vulnerability affects not only the immediate application but also any backend systems that rely on the application for secure communication. Organizations using this application face increased risk of regulatory compliance violations, particularly under standards such as PCI DSS and HIPAA where proper certificate validation is mandatory for secure data transmission. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the mobile environment's inherent security challenges including potential exposure on unsecured networks and the difficulty of maintaining consistent security policies across diverse device configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7563 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network security architecture. Organizations should implement certificate pinning to ensure that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are accepted, thereby preventing attackers from substituting forged certificates. The application must be updated to perform comprehensive certificate chain validation including hostname verification, certificate expiration checks, and revocation status verification through CRL or OCSP protocols. Additionally, security patches should enforce strict trust model validation and implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures, ensuring that any certificate validation issues result in connection termination rather than acceptance of potentially compromised certificates. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that certificate validation mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack techniques and that the application maintains compliance with industry security standards and regulatory requirements.