CVE-2014-7613 in WASPS Official Programmes
Summary
by MITRE
The WASPS Official Programmes (aka com.triactivemedia.wasps) application @7F080130 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-2014-7613 affects the WASPS Official Programmes Android application version 7F080130, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to execute successful man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's cryptographic implementation where it bypasses standard certificate verification procedures that should validate the authenticity and integrity of SSL/TLS server certificates. This weakness allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, effectively breaking the trust model that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to establish. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate validation process, which is a fundamental component of secure communications as defined by industry standards and security protocols.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to substantial risk of data interception and theft, as attackers can impersonate legitimate servers and capture sensitive information transmitted through the application. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential session hijacking, credential compromise, and unauthorized access to user accounts or personal information. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principles of confidentiality and integrity as outlined in the CIA triad, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive user data.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for "Encrypted Channel: Asymmetric Cryptography." The attack vector leverages the weakness in certificate validation to establish unauthorized communication channels, allowing attackers to position themselves between the application and legitimate servers. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including certificate pinning, proper certificate validation routines, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Security remediation for this vulnerability requires the application developers to implement robust certificate validation mechanisms that properly verify certificate chains, check certificate expiration dates, and validate certificate signatures against trusted certificate authorities. The implementation should follow established security frameworks such as those recommended by NIST SP 800-57 and ISO/IEC 15408, ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections properly authenticate server identities before establishing secure communication channels. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate pinning strategies to further strengthen the application's resistance to man-in-the-middle attacks and maintain the integrity of secure communications.