CVE-2014-7765 in Hundred Thousands Kid Book
Summary
by MITRE
The Hundred Thousands Kid Book (aka it.tinytap.attsa.thousands) application 1.6.3 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 Hundred Thousands Kid Book application version 1.6.3 for Android presents a critical security vulnerability through its improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate verification mechanisms. This flaw resides in the application's cryptographic implementation where it fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The vulnerability creates an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by Transport Layer Security protocols, leaving users susceptible to sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive data exchanges.
This security weakness directly corresponds to CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications. The application's failure to verify certificate chains, issuer information, and cryptographic signatures creates a pathway for attackers to establish fraudulent SSL connections with legitimate applications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core security infrastructure that protects user data during transmission, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to intercept or manipulate sensitive information exchanged between the mobile application and remote servers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to completely impersonate legitimate servers and gain unauthorized access to user information. Mobile applications relying on this flawed certificate validation mechanism become vulnerable to attacks where malicious actors can present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This allows for the theft of user credentials, personal information, financial data, and other sensitive materials that would normally be protected by SSL/TLS encryption protocols.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1041, which covers data from network connections, and T1566, which addresses credential harvesting through social engineering. The attack surface is particularly concerning for applications handling user authentication or sensitive personal data, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or user interaction. The attack vector is straightforward for adversaries who can position themselves between the application and its target servers, making this a persistent threat in environments where network traffic interception is possible.
Recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, enforcing strict X.509 certificate validation procedures, and incorporating robust certificate chain verification within the application's cryptographic libraries. Security patches should ensure that all SSL/TLS connections verify certificate signatures, check certificate expiration dates, validate certificate authorities, and implement certificate revocation checking. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior and establish proper security testing procedures to validate cryptographic implementations before deployment. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper certificate validation in mobile security architectures and the potential consequences of neglecting these fundamental security controls.