CVE-2014-7602 in FRONT
Summary
by MITRE
The FRONT (aka com.magazinecloner.front) application @7F08017A 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 described in CVE-2014-7602 represents a critical security flaw in the FRONT Android application that undermines the fundamental principles of secure communication. This application, identified by the package name com.magazinecloner.front and hash 7F08017A, fails to implement proper SSL certificate verification mechanisms, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle threats. The absence of X.509 certificate validation means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without proper authentication, effectively disabling the cryptographic security measures designed to protect data integrity and confidentiality.
This flaw directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communication protocols. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform successful man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged SSL certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The attack vector involves intercepting network traffic between the Android device and legitimate servers, where the malicious actor can present a crafted certificate that the application accepts without proper verification. This weakness enables attackers to decrypt sensitive information transmitted between the user's device and web services, potentially compromising personal data, login credentials, financial information, or other confidential communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally breaks the trust model that secure communication protocols are designed to maintain. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create an environment where attackers can transparently monitor, modify, or steal data without detection. This vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain secure connections, potentially leading to credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to user accounts. The implications are particularly severe given the mobile platform's exposure to various network environments including public wifi networks, cellular data connections, and potentially compromised networks where such attacks are more likely to succeed.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning techniques that validate specific certificate fingerprints or public keys rather than relying on certificate authorities. The application should be updated to perform proper X.509 certificate validation, including checking certificate chains, expiration dates, and hostname verification. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection and monitoring for suspicious certificate behavior. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data compression and encryption for exfiltration, as attackers can leverage the compromised application to capture and exfiltrate sensitive information. Additionally, the flaw demonstrates characteristics of T1566, representing a social engineering attack vector that exploits application trust models to gain unauthorized access to protected information. The remediation process must include comprehensive security testing of all network communication components and implementation of robust certificate validation routines that comply with industry standards for mobile application security.