CVE-2014-7718 in Travel+Leisure
Summary
by MITRE
The Travel+Leisure (aka com.magzter.travelleisure) 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 • 10/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7718 affects the Travel+Leisure Android application version 3.0, specifically targeting its secure communication protocols. This issue represents a critical flaw in the application's implementation of Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificate validation mechanisms, creating a significant security risk for users who rely on the app for accessing sensitive information. The vulnerability falls under the category of insecure cryptographic implementation as defined by CWE-310, where the application fails to properly validate the authenticity of SSL/TLS certificates presented by servers during secure connections.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to perform proper X.509 certificate verification during SSL/TLS handshakes. This weakness allows malicious actors to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate chain validation means that the app accepts any certificate that can be validated by a trusted Certificate Authority without additional scrutiny of the certificate's authenticity. This vulnerability directly violates security best practices outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 and OWASP Mobile Top 10, where proper certificate validation is essential for maintaining secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely impersonate legitimate servers and gain access to sensitive user information. Mobile applications that handle personal data, financial information, or private communications are particularly vulnerable when they fail to validate SSL certificates properly. This weakness creates a persistent risk for users who may unknowingly transmit personal information, login credentials, or financial data to compromised servers. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, where adversaries use man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept and potentially modify communications between mobile applications and their backend services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning to ensure that the application only accepts specific certificates or certificate authorities, rather than accepting any valid certificate from a trusted CA. The application must perform complete certificate chain validation and verify certificate expiration dates, subject names, and digital signatures against trusted root certificates. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits can help prevent similar issues in future releases. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish proper incident response procedures to address potential breaches resulting from such vulnerabilities.