CVE-2014-7763 in Listen Up! Mirucho
Summary
by MITRE
The Listen up! mirucho (aka jp.ameba.kiiteyo.android) application 1.1.8 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 CVE-2014-7763 vulnerability affects the Listen up! mirucho Android application version 1.1.8, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle threats. The flaw fundamentally undermines the cryptographic security assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, leaving sensitive user data susceptible to interception and manipulation by malicious actors who can present forged certificates to establish false trust relationships with the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," a category that encompasses failures in SSL/TLS certificate verification processes. When an Android application fails to validate server certificates properly, it creates an environment where attackers can exploit the trust model by presenting maliciously crafted certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability operates at the transport layer security level, where the application should be performing certificate chain validation, hostname verification, and trust anchor checking but instead accepts any certificate presented by the server without proper scrutiny. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture and violates established security best practices for mobile application development.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to conduct successful man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application, allowing them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information transmitted between the mobile device and remote servers. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential session hijacking, credential theft, and the ability to inject malicious content into communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate services, redirect users to malicious websites, or capture personal information, financial data, or other sensitive user credentials. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of communications, undermining the core security objectives that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to achieve. Given that this is a mobile application, the risk is compounded by the typically less secure mobile network environments and the potential for attackers to leverage public Wi-Fi networks to establish the man-in-the-middle position.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7763 require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must implement comprehensive certificate verification including certificate chain validation, hostname checking, and trust anchor verification to ensure that only certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities are accepted. This includes implementing proper SSL/TLS configuration, utilizing certificate pinning techniques where appropriate, and ensuring that the application performs thorough validation of certificate properties such as expiration dates, signature algorithms, and subject alternative names. The fix should align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for secure mobile application development. Additionally, the application should be updated to use modern SSL/TLS protocol versions and cipher suites that provide adequate security strength while maintaining compatibility with legitimate services. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that certificate validation mechanisms remain robust against evolving attack techniques and that the application maintains proper security posture against similar vulnerabilities.