CVE-2014-7774 in Herbs
Summary
by MITRE
The Herbs & Flowers Dictionary (aka com.wHerbsNFlowersDictionary) application 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-2014-7774 affects the Herbs & Flowers Dictionary Android application version 0.1, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security oversight in the application's network security architecture, where the software fails to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates during secure connections. The absence of X.509 certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise the integrity of data transmission between the mobile application and remote servers. This vulnerability is particularly concerning given the nature of the application, which likely handles sensitive user information or medical data related to herbal and floral remedies.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform proper certificate validation during SSL handshakes, which directly violates fundamental security principles for secure communications. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation where the application does not properly verify the authenticity of SSL certificates presented by servers. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the unverified client application. This weakness specifically maps to ATT&CK technique T1041 where adversaries intercept and modify network traffic, and T1566 which involves credential access through social engineering or network manipulation. The application's lack of certificate pinning or proper validation mechanisms means that any certificate issued by a trusted authority can be accepted without proper scrutiny, creating a trust relationship that can be easily compromised.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to manipulate the entire communication channel between the mobile application and backend services. An attacker positioned within the network can present a malicious certificate that appears to be from a legitimate server, allowing them to decrypt, modify, or redirect sensitive information transmitted by users. This includes potential exposure of user credentials, personal health information, or any data that the application might collect or process. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of communications, as users cannot trust that their data is being transmitted securely to legitimate endpoints. Given that this is a mobile application, the risk is amplified by the potential for attackers to exploit public Wi-Fi networks or compromised devices to establish the man-in-the-middle position.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental flaw in certificate validation within the application's network security implementation. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper SSL certificate validation by incorporating certificate pinning mechanisms or utilizing established security libraries that enforce certificate verification. Organizations should ensure that the application validates certificate chains against trusted root authorities and implements proper certificate expiration checks. The solution aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-52 and OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure communication. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits of network communication components can help prevent similar vulnerabilities. The application should also be updated to include proper error handling for certificate validation failures, ensuring that any connection attempts with untrusted certificates are rejected rather than accepted, thereby preventing the exploitation of this weakness by malicious actors.