CVE-2014-7772 in MB Tickets
Summary
by MITRE
The MB Tickets (aka com.xcr.android.mbtickets) application 3.0.1 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 • 10/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7772 affects the MB Tickets Android application version 3.0.1, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's approach to establishing trusted connections with remote servers. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates, creating a pathway for malicious actors to intercept and manipulate data transmission between the mobile client and backend services. Such a vulnerability directly undermines the fundamental security principles of encrypted communication and trust establishment in mobile applications.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing certificate verification mechanism within the application's SSL implementation. When the MB Tickets application establishes connections to remote servers, it fails to perform proper X.509 certificate validation checks that are standard practice in secure communication protocols. This omission allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to masquerade as trusted servers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the certificate chain validation process, where the application does not verify certificate authorities, expiration dates, or certificate signatures that would normally confirm the authenticity of the server being connected to. This weakness falls under the broader category of improper certificate validation as defined by CWE-295, which addresses the failure to validate certificates in secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly for an application handling potentially sensitive user data. Attackers can exploit this weakness to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks, intercepting all data transmitted between the mobile application and backend servers. This includes user credentials, personal information, transaction details, and any other sensitive data that the application processes or stores. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for applications handling financial transactions or personal identification information, as it creates opportunities for data theft and identity fraud. The attack vector is relatively straightforward for skilled adversaries who can create and present valid-looking certificates that bypass the application's inadequate verification mechanisms.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering. The weakness creates an environment where attackers can establish persistent surveillance capabilities over the application's communication channels. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the application's security architecture that could enable broader exploitation patterns beyond simple data interception. Organizations using this application face significant risk of data breaches and regulatory compliance violations, particularly if the application handles personally identifiable information or financial data. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple communication sessions makes it particularly dangerous, as attackers can maintain access over extended periods without detection.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing proper SSL/TLS certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that all X.509 certificates are verified against trusted certificate authorities, check certificate expiration dates, and validate certificate signatures before establishing secure connections. The application should implement certificate pinning techniques to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates, and developers should utilize established security libraries that properly handle certificate validation. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to verify that certificate validation mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should align with industry best practices for mobile application security and comply with standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for secure mobile application development.