CVE-2014-7749 in CamDictionary
Summary
by MITRE
The CamDictionary (aka com.intsig.camdict) application 2.3.0.20131118 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-2014-7749 affects the CamDictionary Android application version 2.3.0.20131118, 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 exposure in the mobile application's security architecture. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification mechanism that should ensure the authenticity of SSL servers before establishing secure connections.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate validation within the application's SSL implementation. When the CamDictionary application attempts to establish secure communication with remote servers, it does not perform the necessary checks to verify that the server's certificate is issued by a trusted certificate authority, has not expired, and properly matches the server's hostname. This omission places the application in a state where it accepts any certificate presented by a server, including maliciously crafted certificates designed to deceive the application into believing it is communicating with a legitimate server.
This vulnerability creates substantial operational impact by enabling man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user data and system integrity. Attackers can exploit this weakness by intercepting communications between the application and its servers, presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The consequences extend beyond simple data interception to include potential credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and poses a risk to any sensitive information transmitted through the application's network communications.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a failure in the application's certificate trust model. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for credential access through phishing and T1041 for data transmission, as attackers can exploit the insecure connection to exfiltrate sensitive information. Organizations should consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior and ensure proper certificate validation mechanisms are in place.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application updates that implement proper certificate validation, including certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate. The application should be configured to verify certificate chains against trusted root certificates, validate certificate expiration dates, and perform hostname verification. Network administrators should also implement additional security controls such as SSL inspection and monitoring for unusual certificate patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper certificate validation in mobile applications and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the application development lifecycle. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure that all SSL/TLS implementations follow established security best practices and industry standards.