CVE-2014-7755 in eTopUpOnline
Summary
by MITRE
The eTopUpOnline (aka com.moremagic.etopup.client.android) application 3.4.9 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-2014-7755 affects the eTopUpOnline Android application version 3.4.9, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's certificate verification mechanism, which is a fundamental component of secure network communications and the foundation of trust in cryptographic protocols.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper certificate chain validation and hostname verification within the application's SSL implementation. When an Android application establishes a secure connection to a remote server, it should verify that the server's certificate is issued by a trusted Certificate Authority and that the certificate's subject matches the server's domain name. In this case, the eTopUpOnline application bypasses these crucial validation steps, allowing attackers to present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This weakness directly violates the principles of secure communication protocols and undermines the entire SSL/TLS security model that is designed to prevent unauthorized access and data interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user information including personal data, payment credentials, and financial transaction details. Attackers can exploit this flaw by intercepting communications between the application and its servers, presenting forged certificates that the application accepts without proper validation. This creates a dangerous environment where users unknowingly transmit sensitive information to malicious actors who can then access, modify, or steal the data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for an application handling financial transactions, as it directly threatens the confidentiality and integrity of monetary exchanges and user account information.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. The lack of certificate verification represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and violates industry best practices established by organizations such as NIST and OWASP. Organizations should implement proper certificate pinning mechanisms, utilize trusted certificate authorities, and ensure that all SSL/TLS implementations include comprehensive certificate validation procedures. The remediation involves updating the application to properly validate certificate chains, implement hostname verification, and incorporate secure communication protocols that adhere to established security standards and regulatory requirements for financial applications.