CVE-2014-7577 in Photo Video Pro Audio
Summary
by MITRE
The B&H Photo Video Pro Audio (aka com.bhphoto) application 2.5.1 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-2014-7577 affects the B&H Photo Video Pro Audio Android application version 2.5.1, 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 surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with legitimate servers, undermining the fundamental security principles of secure communications.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing certificate verification step within the application's secure socket layer implementation, specifically within the network communication layer where SSL/TLS connections are established. When the application attempts to connect to remote servers using HTTPS or SSL protocols, it fails to validate the server's X.509 certificate against trusted certificate authorities or perform proper certificate chain validation. This allows attackers to intercept communications by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, effectively bypassing the security mechanisms designed to protect against unauthorized access and data interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise user credentials, personal information, and sensitive business data transmitted through the application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious servers, capture login credentials, intercept payment information, or gain access to confidential communications between users and legitimate service providers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may conduct sensitive transactions or access confidential information while connected to public networks, making the attack surface even more expansive.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in various security standards including NIST SP 800-57 and ISO/IEC 27001. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers "Network Service Scanning,' and T1566, which covers 'Phishing,' as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish malicious connections that appear legitimate to users. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, proper certificate validation mechanisms, and regular security audits of mobile applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into their software development lifecycle processes.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires the application developers to implement proper SSL/TLS certificate validation procedures that include certificate chain validation, trust store verification, and implementation of certificate pinning where appropriate. Security patches should ensure that all network communications validate server certificates against trusted certificate authorities and implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security assessments to prevent similar issues from reoccurring in future application versions, ensuring that the security of user data remains paramount in mobile application development practices.