CVE-2014-7621 in EIN Lookup
Summary
by MITRE
The EIN Lookup (aka appinventor.ai_siwanuth.EINLookup) application 1.1 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 • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7621 affects the EIN Lookup Android application version 1.1, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic 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 adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture, specifically in its certificate validation mechanisms that are essential for establishing secure communications.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification during SSL handshakes. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The application accepts any certificate presented by a server without verifying its authenticity through trusted certificate authorities or checking the certificate's validity period, subject names, and other critical attributes. This behavior directly violates established security protocols and best practices for secure communication on mobile platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the application and its backend services. Mobile users who rely on the EIN Lookup application for business or personal purposes become vulnerable to data breaches, identity theft, and financial fraud. The vulnerability affects any data that flows through the application's network connections, including user credentials, personal identification information, business data, and potentially financial information. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or access to the device itself, making it accessible to remote adversaries with minimal technical expertise.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which describes improper certificate validation, and represents a clear violation of the TLS/SSL security model. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique through network sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks, specifically under the T1046 and T1566 sub-techniques. Organizations and developers should implement comprehensive certificate pinning mechanisms, utilize trusted certificate authorities, and ensure proper certificate validation routines are in place. The recommended mitigations include updating the application to properly validate server certificates, implementing certificate pinning to prevent acceptance of unauthorized certificates, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in mobile applications. This vulnerability serves as a prime example of how inadequate cryptographic implementation can undermine the security posture of mobile applications and highlights the critical importance of proper SSL/TLS certificate validation in mobile security architectures.