CVE-2014-7751 in Recetas de Tragos
Summary
by MITRE
The Recetas de Tragos (aka com.wRecetasdeTragos) 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-2014-7751 affects the Recetas de Tragos Android application version 0.1, specifically targeting its secure communication implementation. This application, designed to provide cocktail recipes and related content, fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during network communications, creating a critical security gap that exposes users to sophisticated attack vectors. The flaw resides in the application's cryptographic handshake process where it does not perform proper certificate verification, leaving the mobile application susceptible to various network-based attacks that compromise the integrity of data transmission.
The technical implementation flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, specifically within the SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanism. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which describes improper certificate validation in secure communications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 for data encryption for integrity, as the application fails to establish proper trust relationships with remote servers. The application's failure to verify X.509 certificates means it accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or validity, effectively nullifying the security benefits of SSL/TLS encryption. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely compromise the application's communication integrity and potentially access sensitive user information. Mobile applications that rely on network connectivity for functionality are particularly vulnerable, as users trust the application to maintain secure connections with backend services. Attackers can exploit this weakness to redirect traffic through malicious servers, capture user credentials, personal information, or even manipulate application data, leading to potential identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability affects all network communications within the application, including any data exchanges with remote servers for recipe updates, user authentication, or content delivery.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that only trusted certificates are accepted, along with proper certificate chain validation that checks certificate authorities, expiration dates, and subject alternative names. The application should also implement certificate revocation checking and maintain updated certificate trust stores. Organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate certificate manipulation attempts. Additionally, security assessments should include thorough testing of SSL/TLS implementations to identify similar validation weaknesses in other applications and services. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those defined by NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and secure communication protocols.