CVE-2014-7575 in eBiblio Andalucia
Summary
by MITRE
The eBiblio Andalucia (aka com.bqreaders.reader.ebiblioandalucia) application 1.6.5 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-2014-7575 affects the eBiblio Andalucia Android application version 1.6.5, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant exposure that undermines the fundamental security guarantees of encrypted communications. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is essential for establishing trust between the client application and remote servers in secure network communications.
The technical flaw manifests as an improper certificate validation mechanism that allows the application to accept any certificate presented by a server without performing the necessary cryptographic checks. This includes verification of certificate chains, expiration dates, and proper signing authorities. When an attacker can successfully intercept communications between the Android application and its backend servers, they can present a maliciously crafted certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application. The application's inability to distinguish between valid and invalid certificates creates a pathway for attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks without detection, as the application accepts certificates regardless of their authenticity or legitimacy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, potentially allowing attackers to obtain sensitive user information, session tokens, and personal data transmitted through the application's secure channels. This weakness is particularly dangerous in mobile applications that handle user credentials, personal information, or financial data, as the compromised communication channel can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or sensitive corporate information. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of all data transmitted between the Android device and remote servers, undermining the trust model that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to establish.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic implementation in mobile applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Engineering) and T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel) as attackers can leverage the compromised communication channel to establish persistent access and exfiltrate data. The vulnerability also connects to T1592 (Gather Victim Host Information) and T1590 (Reconnaissance) as attackers can use the compromised connection to gather additional information about the target environment. Organizations should implement proper certificate pinning mechanisms, enforce strict certificate validation procedures, and conduct regular security assessments of mobile applications to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in real-world scenarios.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires implementing proper certificate validation procedures that include chain of trust verification, expiration date checks, and proper certificate authority validation. Mobile application developers should adopt certificate pinning techniques to ensure that only specific certificates or certificate authorities are accepted, preventing attackers from substituting malicious certificates. Additionally, implementing robust error handling for SSL/TLS connection failures and proper logging of certificate validation events can help detect potential attacks. The application should be updated to enforce strict X.509 certificate validation, including checking certificate signatures against trusted authorities and ensuring that certificates have not been revoked through Certificate Revocation List (CRL) or Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) checks. Regular security audits and penetration testing of mobile applications should be conducted to identify and remediate similar certificate validation weaknesses that could compromise user data and system integrity.