CVE-2014-7626 in Atme
Summary
by MITRE
The Atme (aka com.bedigital.atme) application 1.0.10 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.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7626 affects the Atme Android application version 1.0.10, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical failure in the application's cryptographic security measures, as it fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant security gap that enables malicious actors to exploit the application's communication channels. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of SSL certificate validation within the application's networking stack, which is a fundamental requirement for maintaining secure communications in mobile applications.
The technical implementation flaw manifests as a failure to perform certificate chain validation and trust verification processes that are standard requirements for secure SSL/TLS implementations. According to CWE-295, this vulnerability falls under the category of "Improper Certificate Validation," which directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers. The flaw allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This occurs because the application accepts any certificate presented by a server without verifying its authenticity through established certificate authorities or trust stores. The vulnerability specifically impacts the SSL/TLS handshake process where certificate validation should occur but is entirely bypassed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it exposes users to potential data interception and theft. Attackers can exploit this weakness to capture sensitive information transmitted between the application and its servers, including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of all data exchanged through the application's secure channels, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive user information. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability enables techniques such as T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel) and T1566 (Phishing) by allowing attackers to establish unauthorized communication channels. The vulnerability also impacts the application's security posture by undermining the principle of secure communication and trust establishment that is fundamental to mobile application security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing robust certificate pinning techniques that validate server certificates against trusted authorities or specific certificate fingerprints. Organizations should deploy certificate validation libraries that properly implement X.509 certificate chain validation and trust verification processes. The application must be updated to perform thorough certificate verification including checking certificate expiration dates, validating certificate signatures, and ensuring certificates are issued by trusted certificate authorities. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency mechanisms and regular security audits of cryptographic implementations will help prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases. Security patches should be deployed immediately to address the certificate validation failure and restore proper SSL/TLS security measures within the application's communication framework.