CVE-2014-7630 in Fling Gold
Summary
by MITRE
The Fling Gold (aka com.mbgames.fling.gold) application 1.1.3 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-2014-7630 affects the Fling Gold Android application version 1.1.3, 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 compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust relationships with legitimate servers, as it fails to perform essential certificate verification steps that are fundamental to secure network communications.
The technical flaw stems from the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms, specifically bypassing the standard certificate chain validation process that should occur during secure connections. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of insufficient certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The application's failure to verify certificate signatures, expiration dates, and issuer information creates a pathway for attackers to intercept and potentially modify sensitive data transmitted between the mobile device and backend services.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including data theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to personal information. The man-in-the-middle attack capability means that attackers can eavesdrop on communications, inject malicious content, or redirect users to fraudulent websites while the application believes it is communicating securely with legitimate servers. This vulnerability directly aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 tactic for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access points for data exfiltration and further exploitation.
The impact extends beyond immediate data compromise to include potential long-term security implications for users who may unknowingly share sensitive information with compromised servers. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to capture login credentials, personal identification information, financial data, and other confidential details that the application transmits during normal operation. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish proper certificate pinning mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future applications. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to mobile security guidelines that emphasize proper SSL/TLS implementation and certificate validation procedures.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate code updates to implement proper certificate verification, deployment of certificate pinning mechanisms, and comprehensive security testing of all network communication components. Security professionals should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar certificate validation flaws in other mobile applications and ensure that all SSL/TLS implementations follow industry best practices for certificate trust validation. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that mobile application security requires rigorous attention to cryptographic implementation details and proper adherence to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security.