CVE-2014-7572 in Stoner's Handbook L- Bud Guide
Summary
by MITRE
The Stoner s Handbook L- Bud Guide (aka fallacystudios.stonershandbooklite) application 7.2 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-2014-7572 affects the Stoner s Handbook L- Bud Guide application version 7.2 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant pathway for malicious actors to compromise the security of data transmission between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that is fundamental to establishing secure communications over the internet, thereby undermining the entire security framework that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
This technical flaw falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The application's failure to verify SSL certificates creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile device and backend servers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to establish false trust relationships with the mobile client. This weakness directly violates the principle of certificate chain validation that is essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of network communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it provides attackers with the capability to obtain sensitive information from users of the application. Mobile applications that fail to properly validate SSL certificates become vulnerable to various attack scenarios including credential theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation. The affected application's users may unknowingly transmit personal information, login credentials, or other sensitive data that can be captured and exploited by malicious actors. This vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture and exposes users to potential financial loss, identity theft, and privacy violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that SSL certificates are properly validated against trusted certificate authorities and that certificate pinning techniques are implemented where appropriate. The application should verify certificate chains, check certificate expiration dates, and validate certificate signatures against established trust stores. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious certificate usage patterns and establish regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. This remediation effort aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks, emphasizing the importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for robust mobile application security practices and highlights the dangers of insufficient cryptographic controls in mobile environments where users increasingly rely on applications for sensitive transactions and data handling.