CVE-2014-7622 in Mobile ATM Locator
Summary
by MITRE
The Affinity Mobile ATM Locator (aka com.collegemobile.affinity.locator) application 1.5 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-2014-7622 affects the Affinity Mobile ATM Locator application version 1.5 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security assurances typically provided by secure communication channels. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is a cornerstone of secure network communications and essential for establishing trust between client and server components.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification when establishing secure connections to remote servers. This weakness allows malicious actors to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate validation mechanisms means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to intercept and manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and its backend servers. Mobile users who rely on the ATM locator service for critical banking information become vulnerable to data theft, session hijacking, and potential financial fraud. The attack surface extends beyond simple data interception to include the possibility of complete service impersonation, where malicious actors can masquerade as legitimate banking services and trick users into providing sensitive personal information or credentials. This vulnerability particularly affects financial applications where user trust and data integrity are paramount, making it a significant concern for both end users and financial institutions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms within the application's networking layer. The recommended approach includes implementing proper certificate chain validation, establishing certificate pinning for critical endpoints, and ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough verification of server certificates against trusted certificate authorities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits of their mobile applications. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and should address the specific ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data manipulation and man-in-the-middle attacks. Furthermore, the application should be updated to enforce secure communication protocols that prevent the acceptance of untrusted certificates and implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures.