CVE-2014-7787 in iShuttle
Summary
by MITRE
The iShuttle (aka com.synapse.ishuttle_user) 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.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7787 affects the iShuttle mobile application version 1.0 for Android operating systems, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue resides within the application's certificate validation mechanism, specifically targeting the X.509 certificate verification process that is fundamental to establishing trust in secure socket layer communications. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit the application's failure to properly validate server certificates, creating a pathway for man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between the mobile device and remote servers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation routines, which violates established security best practices for mobile application development. When the iShuttle application establishes secure connections to its backend services, it fails to perform proper certificate chain validation, certificate expiration checks, or hostname verification that are essential components of secure communication. This omission creates a trust relationship that can be easily manipulated by attackers who can present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby undermining the entire purpose of SSL/TLS encryption. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" and falls under the broader category of weak cryptographic implementations in mobile applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. Mobile applications that handle personal data, financial information, or corporate credentials become particularly vulnerable when they fail to properly validate SSL certificates, as attackers can exploit this weakness to eavesdrop on communications, inject malicious content, or redirect users to fraudulent services. The implications are especially severe for applications like iShuttle that likely handle transportation-related information, user credentials, or payment data, as the compromised communication channel can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized access to transportation services. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which describes "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel" and demonstrates how weakened SSL validation can facilitate data exfiltration through compromised communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7787 require immediate attention from both application developers and security administrators. The primary remediation involves implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms within the mobile application, ensuring that all X.509 certificates undergo comprehensive verification including certificate chain validation, expiration date checks, and hostname matching against the expected server identity. Developers should leverage Android's built-in certificate pinning capabilities and implement proper SSL socket validation to prevent the acceptance of untrusted certificates. Additionally, security administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual certificate validation behaviors that might indicate active attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Mobile Top 10 and NIST SP 800-90A guidelines for mobile application security, particularly concerning the implementation of secure communication protocols and proper cryptographic practices in mobile environments.