CVE-2014-7668 in Ads Free. Cz advert
Summary
by MITRE
The Ads Free. Cz advert (aka cz.inzeratyzdarma.cz) application 1.4 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-2014-7668 affects the Ads Free. Cz advert application version 1.4 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue 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 user data and system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's SSL certificate verification process, where the Android application fails to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname checking. This weakness allows attackers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting maliciously crafted SSL certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which describes improper certificate validation in security protocols, specifically targeting the absence of proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes users to severe security risks including credential theft, data interception, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate servers and capture user credentials, personal information, or financial data transmitted through the application. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potential corporate data breaches, especially if the application handles business-related information or integrates with enterprise systems.
The attack vector leverages standard man-in-the-middle techniques where adversaries position themselves between the user's device and legitimate servers, intercepting and modifying communication streams. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core security infrastructure of the application, undermining all security measures that rely on SSL/TLS encryption. The absence of certificate verification creates a trust boundary that can be easily compromised, allowing attackers to establish false connections without detection.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application, including certificate pinning, hostname verification, and robust certificate chain validation. Security measures should align with industry best practices such as those recommended by the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. The application should be updated to validate certificate chains against trusted certificate authorities and implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure communication implementation in mobile applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during the development lifecycle. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when proper cryptographic practices are not implemented in mobile security solutions. Organizations should prioritize security reviews and implement continuous monitoring to detect and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their mobile application portfolios.