CVE-2014-7727 in Dj Brad H
Summary
by MITRE
The Dj Brad H (aka com.dreamstep.wDjBradH) application 0.90 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-2014-7727 resides within the Dj Brad H Android application version 0.90, specifically manifesting in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications. This critical security flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's cryptographic security implementation, creating an exploitable condition that directly undermines the integrity of secure communications between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing the weakness of "Improper Certificate Validation" where applications fail to properly verify the authenticity and trustworthiness of SSL/TLS certificates.
The technical implementation flaw in this Android application demonstrates a complete absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate chain validation mechanisms. When the application establishes SSL connections to remote servers, it fails to perform the essential verification steps that would normally confirm the server's certificate is issued by a trusted Certificate Authority and that the certificate matches the expected domain name. This omission creates a dangerous trust model where any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its legitimacy or the server's actual identity, will be accepted by the application. Attackers can exploit this weakness by deploying malicious certificates that appear to be from legitimate services, effectively enabling man-in-the-middle attacks that can intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the vulnerable application and its servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass a complete compromise of the application's security model and user trust. Mobile applications that fail to properly validate SSL certificates create an environment where attackers can seamlessly impersonate legitimate services and gain access to user credentials, personal information, financial data, or other sensitive content that the application handles. This vulnerability directly maps to tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1573.001 technique for "Encrypted Channel" and T1041 for "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel", as it enables attackers to establish unauthorized communication channels that bypass normal security controls. The implications are particularly severe for applications handling user authentication, payment information, or personal data, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring physical access to devices or complex attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and implement comprehensive cryptographic best practices. The most effective remediation involves implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms including certificate pinning, where the application maintains a trusted list of certificate fingerprints or public keys and only accepts connections that match these predetermined values. Additionally, the application should implement full certificate chain validation that includes checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate signatures against trusted CAs, and performing hostname verification to ensure certificates match the target server. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency monitoring and regular security audits to detect potential certificate misuse. This vulnerability serves as a prime example of why mobile security frameworks must enforce strict cryptographic validation requirements and why developers should follow secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security.