CVE-2014-7598 in Poker Puzzle
Summary
by MITRE
The Poker Puzzle (aka com.sharpiq.pokerpuzzle) application 1.0.0 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-2014-7598 affects the Poker Puzzle Android application version 1.0.0, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's cryptographic certificate validation mechanism, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability manifests in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, which fundamentally undermines the security assurances that these cryptographic protocols are designed to provide.
This technical flaw falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is categorized as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The application's inability to verify SSL server certificates creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where adversaries can present fraudulent certificates to establish connections with the application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to impersonate legitimate servers without the application's knowledge, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive user information transmitted through the compromised connection. The absence of proper certificate verification means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential financial fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. When users interact with the Poker Puzzle application, they may unknowingly transmit personal information, payment details, or other sensitive data to attackers who have successfully spoofed legitimate servers. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Mobile Top 10 and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes data compression and encryption techniques used by adversaries to avoid detection while exfiltrating data. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the application handles user gaming data and potentially financial transactions within the poker gaming context.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must implement certificate pinning techniques, ensuring that the application only accepts certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities or specific, pre-approved certificates. The fix should involve configuring the application to validate certificate chains against trusted root certificates, implement certificate revocation checking, and establish proper hostname verification procedures. Additionally, the application should be updated to use modern cryptographic libraries that properly handle certificate validation according to industry standards such as RFC 5280 for X.509 certificate specifications. Security reviews should include comprehensive testing of certificate validation routines, and the implementation should be audited to ensure compliance with established security frameworks like those defined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to prevent similar issues in future releases.