CVE-2014-7799 in Squishy birds
Summary
by MITRE
The Squishy birds (aka com.tatmob.squishybirds) application 1.0.1 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 • 10/19/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-7799 represents a critical security flaw in the Squishy birds Android application version 1.0.1, specifically targeting the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This weakness falls under the broader category of insecure cryptographic implementation practices that have been consistently identified as high-risk in mobile application security assessments. The application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to establish fraudulent communication channels with users.
The technical flaw stems from the application's improper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification during network communications. When an Android application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it should validate the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the authenticity of the endpoint. The Squishy birds application bypasses this crucial validation step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This vulnerability is classified as a weakness in certificate validation, which aligns with CWE-295, specifically addressing the improper validation of certificate authorities. The flaw essentially removes the cryptographic security layer that protects against man-in-the-middle attacks, leaving user data and communications exposed to interception and manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user information. Attackers can exploit this weakness by intercepting network traffic between the application and its servers, presenting forged certificates that the application accepts without proper verification. This allows malicious actors to eavesdrop on communications, modify data in transit, and potentially steal user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data. The vulnerability affects not only the application's own data but also any user information that flows through the insecure communication channels. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1041, where adversaries establish persistent access through network-based attacks, and T1566, involving social engineering through man-in-the-middle techniques.
The security implications extend beyond immediate data theft to include potential long-term compromise of user accounts and system integrity. Mobile applications that fail to implement proper certificate validation create trust boundaries that can be easily breached, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the fundamental security architecture of the application's network communications, undermining the entire security model that users expect from secure mobile applications. Organizations and security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader mobile application security assessment, particularly when evaluating the implementation of secure communication protocols and the proper handling of cryptographic certificates in mobile environments. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms and robust SSL/TLS validation as recommended in industry best practices for mobile security.