CVE-2014-8538 in Hijab Modern
Summary
by MITRE
The Hijab Modern (aka com.Aisyaidea.HijabModern) 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8538 resides within the Hijab Modern Android application version 1.0, specifically targeting the application's cryptographic security implementation. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the app's secure communication protocol that directly impacts the integrity of data transmission between the mobile client and remote servers. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant security gap that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data confidentiality.
This vulnerability stems from improper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network communication stack, which falls under the CWE-295 weakness category for "Improper Certificate Validation." The absence of certificate pinning and trust verification processes leaves the application susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can intercept and manipulate encrypted communications. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, as it does not implement proper certificate chain validation or hostname verification procedures that are essential for maintaining secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to establish fraudulent server identities that appear legitimate to the victim application. This allows adversaries to capture sensitive user information including personal data, authentication credentials, and any other information transmitted through the vulnerable application's network connections. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise since it exploits the fundamental trust model of SSL/TLS communications, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive user information.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for "Phishing" and T1041 for "Exfiltration." The compromised application becomes a vector for credential theft and data exfiltration, as attackers can seamlessly intercept and modify communications without detection. The vulnerability affects any user interaction with the application that involves network communication, particularly when sensitive data is transmitted or received. Security professionals should consider this weakness as a critical risk factor when assessing mobile application security postures, especially for applications handling personal or financial information.
Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms such as certificate pinning, ensuring that the application validates certificate chains against trusted root authorities, and implementing hostname verification procedures. The application should be updated to include robust SSL/TLS certificate validation routines that check certificate expiration dates, verify certificate signatures, and confirm that certificates are issued for the expected hostnames. Additionally, developers should consider implementing certificate transparency checks and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases. Organizations should also establish secure coding practices that mandate cryptographic security reviews for all mobile applications before deployment to prevent such critical flaws from reaching production environments.