CVE-2014-7660 in Gent Magazine
Summary
by MITRE
The Gent Magazine (aka com.magzter.thegentmagazine) application 3.0 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 • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7660 affects the Gent Magazine Android application version 3.0, 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 malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. 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 as a complete absence of certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL implementation. When the Gent Magazine app establishes connections to remote servers, it does not perform the necessary checks to verify that certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities, are valid for the intended server, or have not been tampered with during transmission. This omission places the application in violation of standard security practices and creates a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can present forged certificates to intercept and manipulate communications. The vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a failure to implement proper SSL/TLS security controls that are essential for protecting sensitive information transmitted over networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it allows attackers to not only eavesdrop on communications but also to actively modify data in transit. Mobile applications that rely on unverified SSL connections become susceptible to various attack vectors including credential theft, session hijacking, and the injection of malicious content. Users of the Gent Magazine application face significant risks when accessing sensitive information or performing transactions through the app, as their communications can be silently compromised without any indication to the end user. The vulnerability particularly affects applications that handle user credentials, personal information, or financial data, making it a serious concern for mobile application security and compliance with industry standards.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, specifically under the T1573.001 technique related to "Tunneling" and T1566.001 "Phishing" as attackers can leverage this weakness to establish malicious communication channels that appear legitimate to users. The lack of certificate verification creates an environment where attackers can establish trusted connections with victims while simultaneously intercepting and modifying communications. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, enforcing strict certificate validation procedures, and conducting regular security assessments of mobile applications. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SSL traffic patterns and implement security measures such as certificate transparency checks to prevent the exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.