CVE-2014-7643 in C.R. Group
Summary
by MITRE
The C.R. Group (aka com.c.r.group) application 1.0 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-2014-7643 affects the C.R. Group Android application version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of network communications. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's complete absence of certificate validation mechanisms, allowing attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates to unsuspecting users. This failure directly violates established security protocols and standards, as the application does not implement proper certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or trust anchor checking that are essential components of secure SSL/TLS implementations. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security level, where the application should be enforcing certificate pinning or at minimum performing standard certificate validation procedures that are mandated by security best practices.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to severe risks including data interception, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to decrypt communications, modify data in transit, or redirect users to malicious servers without their knowledge. The vulnerability particularly affects applications handling sensitive data such as personal information, financial details, or corporate data, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit mobile application security gaps. This weakness undermines the fundamental security assurances that users expect from mobile applications that claim to provide secure communication channels.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a clear violation of the principle of secure communication implementation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can leverage this weakness to establish malicious connections and deceive users into providing sensitive information. The vulnerability also corresponds to the NIST SP 800-53 security control family SC-8, which requires secure communication protocols and certificate validation. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper certificate validation, enabling certificate pinning, and deploying certificate transparency measures. Organizations should also consider conducting comprehensive security assessments of mobile applications, implementing secure coding practices, and establishing certificate management protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future releases. The remediation process requires immediate code modifications to enforce certificate validation, including hostname checking, certificate chain verification, and trust anchor validation to restore the security assurances that users expect from secure mobile applications.