CVE-2014-7739 in Anahi A Adopter FR
Summary
by MITRE
The Anahi A Adopter FR (aka com.wAnahiAAdopterFR) application 0.1 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 • 10/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7739 affects the Anahi A Adopter FR Android application version 0.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security guarantees of encrypted communications. The flaw specifically impacts the application's ability to verify the authenticity of SSL servers, leaving users vulnerable to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive data transmission.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper handling of certificate verification processes within its SSL implementation. When establishing secure connections, the application fails to perform essential certificate validation checks that should confirm the server's identity through proper certificate chain validation, expiration date verification, and signature validation. This omission allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and potentially modify communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability directly corresponds to CWE-295, which specifically addresses the weakness of not validating certificates, and represents a classic example of insufficient certificate validation in mobile applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, creating potential pathways for comprehensive data breaches and identity theft. Attackers can exploit this flaw to establish fraudulent connections with the application's servers, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal information, financial data, or other sensitive content that the application handles. The man-in-the-middle attack scenario enables adversaries to not only eavesdrop on communications but also to inject malicious content or manipulate data in transit, fundamentally compromising the confidentiality and integrity of the application's data exchange mechanisms. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile applications that handle sensitive user information, making it a significant concern for applications processing personal data or financial transactions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7739 should focus on implementing robust certificate validation mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS implementation. Security measures must include proper certificate chain validation, certificate pinning where appropriate, and enforcement of certificate expiration checks to ensure that only legitimate certificates are accepted. The application should implement certificate verification against trusted certificate authorities and establish mechanisms to detect and reject self-signed or improperly signed certificates. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency measures and regularly updating their certificate validation libraries to address known vulnerabilities in SSL/TLS implementations. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers data manipulation through man-in-the-middle attacks, highlighting the need for comprehensive network security controls and proper certificate management practices. The remediation process requires thorough code review of all SSL/TLS connection handling code and implementation of industry-standard secure coding practices that prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future application versions.