CVE-2014-7761 in Ink Cards
Summary
by MITRE
The Ink Cards (aka com.sincerely.android.ink) application 2.0.4 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 • 10/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7761 affects the Ink Cards application version 2.0.4 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communications. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that compromises the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing trust in secure network communications and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's improper handling of SSL certificate validation mechanisms, where the software fails to perform essential checks such as certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor validation. This insecure implementation allows malicious actors to exploit the weakness through man-in-the-middle attacks, where attackers can present fraudulent certificates to establish fake secure connections with the application. The vulnerability essentially disables the cryptographic security measures that should protect against such attacks, making it possible for threat actors to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile application and backend servers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risks for users of the Ink Cards application, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive information through crafted certificates. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to potentially compromise user privacy, financial data, and personal communications. Attackers could exploit this weakness to intercept user credentials, payment information, personal messages, and other confidential data that the application handles during normal operations. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the application, undermining user trust and potentially leading to regulatory compliance issues for organizations handling sensitive user data.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1573.002 for "Reconnaissance: Network Sniffing." Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the application, implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of mobile applications. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that enforce proper SSL certificate validation, implement certificate pinning for critical applications, and regularly audit cryptographic implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust certificate validation processes in mobile applications and highlights the need for continuous security monitoring and vulnerability management programs to prevent similar issues in future software deployments.