CVE-2014-7794 in Knights of the Void
Summary
by MITRE
The Knights of the Void (aka me.narr8.android.serial.knights_of_the_void) application 2.1.7 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 • 10/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7794 affects the Knights of the Void Android application version 2.1.7, presenting a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate verification mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to execute successful man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically targets the cryptographic security controls that should establish trust between the mobile application and remote servers, fundamentally undermining the integrity of encrypted communications.
From a technical perspective, the flaw represents a failure in certificate pinning and validation processes that are essential for maintaining secure network communications. The application's implementation lacks proper certificate chain validation, allowing attackers to present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. This weakness aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security protocols. The vulnerability exists at the transport layer security implementation level where the application should verify certificate authenticity through established trust mechanisms including certificate authority validation, certificate expiration checks, and proper signature verification. The absence of these security controls creates an environment where attackers can intercept and manipulate encrypted traffic without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables comprehensive surveillance and data exfiltration capabilities for threat actors. An attacker positioned within the network path between the vulnerable application and its target servers can establish fake SSL endpoints that appear legitimate to the application. This allows for complete traffic monitoring, data manipulation, and potential credential theft from users who trust the application's security. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific Android application version, creating a widespread risk across the user base. The implications are particularly severe in environments where sensitive personal or financial data is transmitted through the application, as the attacker gains complete access to this information without raising any security alerts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the core certificate validation failure through comprehensive security implementation. The most effective approach involves implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms that verify certificate fingerprints against known good values, rather than relying solely on trust in certificate authorities. Security patches should enforce strict certificate chain validation including proper signature verification, expiration date checks, and verification against trusted certificate authorities. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish secure communication protocols that include certificate revocation checking. The remediation process should follow industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure mobile application development. Additionally, implementing certificate transparency mechanisms and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and the severe consequences of inadequate security controls in client-server communications.