CVE-2014-7741 in Healing Bookstore
Summary
by MITRE
The Healing Bookstore (aka com.wHealingBookstore) 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-2014-7741 affects the Healing Bookstore Android application version 0.1, 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 compromises the integrity of data transmission between the mobile client and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification mechanism that should ensure the authenticity of SSL servers before establishing secure connections, thereby undermining the fundamental security assurances provided by Transport Layer Security protocols.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation within the application's SSL implementation, allowing attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the mobile application and backend services. When the application attempts to establish secure communication with servers, it accepts any certificate presented without performing the necessary cryptographic verification steps that include checking certificate authority signatures, expiration dates, and domain name matching. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which addresses the weakness of "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols, and represents a classic example of insufficient certificate validation that enables man-in-the-middle attacks. The flaw exists at the application layer where SSL/TLS connections are established, and it operates without any form of certificate pinning or trust validation mechanisms that would normally be expected in secure mobile applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's functionality and compromise user data. An attacker positioned in the network path between the mobile device and the server can present a forged certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application, enabling them to decrypt and modify sensitive communications. This capability allows adversaries to obtain confidential information such as user credentials, personal data, payment information, and other sensitive content that the application handles during normal operation. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific Android application version, creating a widespread security risk that undermines the trust model between the mobile client and backend services. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1041, this vulnerability enables adversaries to perform network sniffing and data interception activities, while also supporting techniques related to credential access and data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The most effective approach involves implementing certificate pinning, where the application explicitly trusts specific certificates or certificate authorities rather than accepting any valid certificate from any authority. Additionally, the application should perform comprehensive certificate validation including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authority signatures, and ensuring domain name matching between the certificate and the target server. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency mechanisms and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The fix should be implemented in accordance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and the OWASP Mobile Security Project guidelines for secure mobile application development. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be established to ensure that such vulnerabilities are addressed promptly and that users are protected against evolving threats in the mobile security landscape.