CVE-2014-7633 in Dino Zoo
Summary
by MITRE
The Dino Zoo (aka com.tappocket.dinozoostar) 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-2014-7633 affects the Dino Zoo Android application version 1.5, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's approach to establishing trust with remote servers through SSL/TLS connections. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in mobile applications where users often transmit sensitive information including personal data, login credentials, and financial details through network connections.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's absence of proper certificate verification mechanisms during SSL handshakes. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should validate the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the connection is legitimate. The Dino Zoo application bypasses this crucial step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear valid to the application. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of how weak cryptographic implementation can undermine entire security architectures. The flaw enables man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can intercept and modify communications between the application and its servers without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the confidentiality and integrity of user communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect users to malicious servers, capture sensitive information transmitted through the application, or inject malicious content into the communication stream. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of mobile security where applications often handle personal information, user preferences, and potentially financial data. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers network service scanning, and T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through spearphishing. The vulnerability affects users across all Android versions where the application is installed, creating a widespread security risk that persists until the application is updated to properly implement certificate validation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from both developers and users. Application developers must implement proper certificate pinning mechanisms, ensuring that the application validates certificates against trusted CAs and maintains a whitelist of acceptable certificates. The recommended approach involves implementing certificate verification routines that check certificate signatures, expiration dates, and issuer information against established trust stores. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate pinning to prevent the use of fraudulent certificates even if they are technically valid. Users should avoid using the vulnerable application until a security patch is released and should be cautious about transmitting sensitive information through networks where man-in-the-middle attacks could occur. Security best practices dictate that applications should never accept unverified certificates and must always validate the entire certificate chain to maintain secure communication channels. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of cryptographic hygiene in mobile application development and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when security measures are insufficiently implemented.