CVE-2014-7587 in Blocked in Free
Summary
by MITRE
The Blocked in Free (aka com.blueup.blocked) application 1.0 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 • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7587 affects the Blocked in Free Android application version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue falls under the category of insufficient certificate verification within SSL/TLS implementations, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise user data. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers, effectively disabling the cryptographic security measures designed to establish trust between client and server components. This fundamental flaw directly violates industry security standards and best practices for mobile application development, particularly those concerning secure network communication.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the application's complete absence of certificate pinning or validation mechanisms during SSL handshakes. When the Blocked in Free application establishes connections to remote servers, it accepts any certificate presented without performing the necessary cryptographic checks that would normally validate the certificate's authenticity, issuer trust, and validity period. This absence of verification creates a man-in-the-middle attack surface where attackers can intercept communications and present fraudulent certificates that the application will accept as legitimate. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to spoof legitimate servers and gain access to sensitive information transmitted through the application's network connections, potentially compromising user privacy and data integrity.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including credential theft, data interception, and unauthorized access to personal information. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potentially enable broader attacks such as session hijacking, financial fraud, or corporate espionage if the application handles sensitive business data. The vulnerability affects all users of the application who engage in network communication, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of mobile applications for both personal and professional activities. The attack vector is relatively simple for adversaries to exploit, requiring only the ability to intercept network traffic and present a forged certificate that the application will accept without question.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1041 for data encryption and T1566 for credential access through network sniffing. Organizations and developers should implement certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent this type of attack, ensuring that applications only accept certificates from trusted authorities and specific certificate fingerprints. Mitigation strategies include updating the application to implement proper certificate validation procedures, incorporating certificate pinning for critical communications, and deploying network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of following mobile security best practices outlined in standards such as NIST SP 800-90A and OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines for secure mobile application development and deployment.