CVE-2014-7783 in Bill G. Bennett
Summary
by MITRE
The Bill G. Bennett (aka com.billgbennett) application 1.0 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.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7783 affects the Bill G. Bennett Android application version 1.0, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's approach to establishing trust with remote servers, as it fails to properly validate the authenticity of SSL/TLS certificates presented by servers during secure connections. The absence of X.509 certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile application and backend services.
This vulnerability fundamentally undermines the cryptographic security model that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, allowing malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against the application's network communications. The flaw enables attackers to present forged certificates that the application will accept without proper validation, effectively breaking the trust chain that should exist between the client and legitimate server endpoints. This weakness is particularly dangerous in mobile applications where users may transmit sensitive personal or financial information over wireless networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it allows attackers to not only eavesdrop on communications but also to actively modify data in transit. When an application fails to verify X.509 certificates, it becomes vulnerable to attacks that can redirect users to malicious servers, inject false content, or capture authentication credentials and other sensitive data. This represents a direct violation of the security principles outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, specifically addressing the risk of insecure communication channels in mobile applications.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1046 and T1571 tactics, which focus on network service scanning and secure network communication. The lack of certificate validation creates an environment where attackers can easily establish fake servers that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, making it difficult for users to detect that their communications are being intercepted or manipulated. The vulnerability also corresponds to CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms within the application, ensuring that the application validates X.509 certificates against trusted certificate authorities, and establishing a robust certificate verification process that includes checking certificate expiration dates, subject names, and digital signatures. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate certificate manipulation attempts. The fix requires comprehensive code review and implementation of industry-standard secure communication practices that align with NIST SP 800-52 guidelines for certificate management and validation in mobile applications.