CVE-2014-7624 in Guess the Pixel Character Quiz
Summary
by MITRE
The Guess the Pixel Character Quiz (aka com.aiadp.pixelcQuiz) application 1.3 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-2014-7624 affects the Guess the Pixel Character Quiz Android application version 1.3, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This issue resides in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise user data. The flaw directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the security of all data transmitted between the mobile device and backend services.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the application's implementation of SSL/TLS connections without proper certificate validation mechanisms. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a server, it should verify that the server's X.509 certificate is valid, properly signed by a trusted Certificate Authority, and matches the expected hostname. In this case, the application bypasses these crucial verification steps, allowing any certificate to be accepted regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This behavior aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses the weakness of improper certificate validation in secure communications, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates severe risks for users of the application, as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can completely compromise the confidentiality and integrity of communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness by presenting a forged certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile device and servers. This includes but is not limited to user credentials, personal data, payment information, and any other sensitive content that might be exchanged during the application's normal operation. The vulnerability essentially removes the security guarantees that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, making all communications susceptible to eavesdropping and manipulation.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1041, which covers data compression and T1566, focusing on credential access through social engineering. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects mobile applications that may handle sensitive user information, making it attractive to both cybercriminals and nation-state actors. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, as attackers can leverage existing tools to create and deploy malicious certificates that will be accepted by the vulnerable application. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of mobile application security frameworks and the broader mobile threat landscape, as it represents a classic example of inadequate cryptographic implementation that can have far-reaching consequences for user privacy and data protection.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, ensuring that the application validates certificates against trusted Certificate Authorities, and implementing hostname verification checks. Developers should adopt secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, specifically focusing on secure communication implementation. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their mobile applications to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with established security frameworks and best practices for mobile application development.