CVE-2014-7608 in Carrier Enterprise HVAC Assist
Summary
by MITRE
The Carrier Enterprise HVAC Assist (aka com.es.CE) application 4.0 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-2014-7608 affects the Carrier Enterprise HVAC Assist mobile application version 4.0 for Android devices, representing 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 the integrity of data transmission between the mobile device and backend systems.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification processes that are fundamental to secure communication protocols. When the Carrier Enterprise HVAC Assist application establishes SSL connections with servers, it fails to validate certificate signatures, check certificate expiration dates, or verify the certificate authority that issued the certificate. This omission directly violates established security practices and creates a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can present forged certificates to intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and enterprise systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information that the HVAC control application may handle. The Carrier Enterprise HVAC Assist application likely processes configuration data, system credentials, operational parameters, and potentially building security information that could be exploited for further attacks or unauthorized system access. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of mobile applications that communicate with enterprise backend systems, particularly in industrial control environments where HVAC systems may be integrated with broader security infrastructure.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communication implementations, and represents a clear violation of the principle of certificate pinning and trust validation. The attack vector described in the vulnerability allows for sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can be executed without requiring physical access to the device or advanced technical skills, making the exploit accessible to a wide range of threat actors. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where the HVAC control systems may be connected to critical infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate building control systems or gain intelligence about facility operations.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application, establishing certificate pinning for known good certificates, and deploying network-level security controls to detect and prevent unauthorized certificate interception. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious certificate usage patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of mobile applications that handle sensitive enterprise data. Additionally, the application should be updated to include proper SSL/TLS certificate validation routines that verify certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and implement appropriate certificate expiration monitoring to prevent the use of compromised certificates.