CVE-2014-7629 in Yulman Stadium
Summary
by MITRE
The Yulman Stadium (aka com.dub.app.tulanestadium) application 1.4.25 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-2014-7629 resides within the Yulman Stadium Android application version 1.4.25, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security guarantees of encrypted communication between mobile applications and remote servers.
The technical flaw stems from the application's inadequate certificate verification mechanism, which operates outside established security protocols and industry standards. When the application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it fails to perform the essential step of validating the server's X.509 certificate against trusted certificate authorities. This omission places the application in direct violation of security best practices outlined in various cryptographic standards and security frameworks. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for "Encrypted Channel: Asymmetric Cryptography" where adversaries can exploit weak cryptographic implementations to intercept and manipulate communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, enabling sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user data and system integrity. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to establish fake secure connections with users while simultaneously intercepting and potentially modifying all transmitted data. This compromise affects not only the confidentiality of user communications but also the integrity of the application's data exchange processes, potentially exposing personal information, authentication credentials, or other sensitive data that users expect to remain protected during transmission.
The security implications extend beyond simple data interception, as this vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions and communication channels. Mobile applications that rely on secure communication protocols for user authentication, data synchronization, or transaction processing become particularly vulnerable when they implement weak certificate validation mechanisms. The vulnerability affects users of the specific application version and represents a failure to implement proper SSL/TLS security controls that are fundamental to modern mobile application security architecture. Organizations deploying similar applications without proper certificate validation mechanisms face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where sensitive data handling or user privacy protection is paramount.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust certificate validation procedures that align with established security standards and industry best practices. The application must be updated to perform proper X.509 certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate signatures against trusted certificate authorities, and implementing certificate pinning where appropriate. Security updates should incorporate proper SSL/TLS configuration that enforces certificate validation during all secure communication sessions. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms to further strengthen the security posture against certificate-based attacks, ensuring that the application only accepts certificates from specific trusted authorities or predetermined certificate fingerprints. These remediation efforts must align with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-52 and OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure mobile application development practices.