CVE-2014-7644 in Go MSX MLS
Summary
by MITRE
The Go MSX MLS (aka com.doapps.android.realestate.RE_16b9c09c4d5b0e174208f35e7c49f9a0) application 2.3.4.MR3 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-2014-7644 represents a critical security flaw in the Go MSX MLS Android application version 2.3.4.MR3, where the software fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections. This deficiency creates a significant attack surface that enables man-in-the-middle adversaries to establish fraudulent server connections and potentially intercept or manipulate sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and backend servers. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of communications by allowing attackers to present malicious certificates that the application accepts without proper verification. This flaw fundamentally undermines the cryptographic security measures designed to protect data in transit, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling personal information, financial data, or other sensitive user content.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper SSL certificate validation implementation within the application's networking stack. Specifically, the application bypasses the standard certificate chain validation process that should verify the certificate's authenticity through trusted certificate authorities and check for proper domain matching. This behavior aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a failure to implement proper certificate pinning or trust verification mechanisms. The vulnerability creates a scenario where any attacker with access to a valid certificate authority or the ability to generate a convincing certificate can impersonate legitimate servers and establish trusted connections with the vulnerable application. This weakness directly enables the attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under T1573.002 for "Encrypted Channel" and T1041 for "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" when exploited by threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential complete system compromise and data breach scenarios. Mobile applications that rely on secure communication channels for authentication, transaction processing, or user data management become particularly vulnerable when they fail to validate SSL certificates. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking, inject malicious content, or redirect users to fraudulent websites while maintaining the appearance of legitimate communication. The vulnerability is especially concerning for real estate applications like the Go MSX MLS, which likely handle sensitive user information including personal details, property records, and potentially financial transactions. This flaw creates opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, manipulate property listings, or extract confidential real estate data that could be monetized or used for identity theft purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7644 require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Organizations should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that the application only accepts certificates from specific trusted authorities or predetermined certificate fingerprints. The application must be updated to perform comprehensive certificate chain validation including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying domain name matches, and ensuring certificates are issued by trusted certificate authorities. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits of the application's cryptographic implementation can help prevent similar vulnerabilities. The fix should align with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and should include proper error handling for certificate validation failures to prevent the application from proceeding with unverified connections. Regular security assessments and code reviews focused on cryptographic implementation should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in mobile application security.