CVE-2014-7778 in Epc World
Summary
by MITRE
The Epc World (aka com.magzter.epcworld) application 3.1 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-2014-7778 affects the Epc World Android application version 3.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that is fundamental to establishing trust in secure communications between mobile applications and remote servers.
This flaw constitutes a classic man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept communications between the vulnerable Android application and its backend services. The application's inability to verify certificate authenticity means it accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its legitimacy or trustworthiness. Attackers can generate and present crafted certificates that appear to be from legitimate servers, allowing them to establish fraudulent connections and potentially capture sensitive user information, session tokens, or other confidential data transmitted through the application. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of certificate-based authentication and trust establishment in cryptographic communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it undermines the entire security model of the application's communication infrastructure. Mobile applications relying on such insecure certificate validation mechanisms become vulnerable to various attack scenarios including credential theft, session hijacking, and data manipulation. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity of communications, potentially exposing users to identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities. This weakness particularly impacts applications handling sensitive user information, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit mobile application security gaps.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves network service scanning and manipulation, as attackers can exploit this weakness to establish unauthorized connections. The vulnerability represents a failure in the application's security architecture and demonstrates the importance of proper certificate pinning and validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement robust certificate validation practices including certificate pinning, proper trust store management, and regular security assessments to prevent similar weaknesses in mobile applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application, including certificate pinning to specific trusted certificates or certificate authorities. Developers should ensure that applications verify certificate chains against trusted root certificates and implement certificate revocation checking where appropriate. The application should reject certificates that fail validation checks or do not match expected certificate fingerprints. Additionally, implementing secure coding practices and regular security testing can help identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in mobile applications. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and maintain up-to-date security protocols for mobile application deployment and maintenance.