CVE-2012-5810 in Chase mobile
Summary
by MITRE
The Chase mobile banking application for Android does not verify that the server hostname matches a domain name in the subject s Common Name (CN) or subjectAltName field of the X.509 certificate, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof SSL servers via an arbitrary valid certificate, related to overriding the default X509TrustManager.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5810 represents a critical flaw in the security architecture of the Chase mobile banking application for Android devices. This issue stems from improper SSL certificate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the authenticity of server certificates during secure communications. The flaw specifically affects the application's implementation of the X509TrustManager, which is responsible for validating digital certificates used in SSL/TLS connections to ensure secure data transmission between mobile clients and banking servers. The vulnerability creates a dangerous security gap that undermines the fundamental purpose of SSL/TLS encryption protocols.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the application overrides the default X509TrustManager behavior to validate SSL certificates. Instead of properly checking that the server hostname matches either the Common Name field or the Subject Alternative Name fields within the X.509 certificate, the application accepts any valid certificate regardless of domain matching. This bypass of standard certificate validation procedures creates a man-in-the-middle attack vector where malicious actors can intercept communications by presenting arbitrary valid certificates that do not correspond to the legitimate banking server. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a failure in certificate hostname verification that violates industry security best practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for both individual users and the financial institution itself. Mobile banking users face significant risks including unauthorized access to their financial accounts, data theft, and potential financial fraud when connected to compromised networks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by setting up rogue Wi-Fi networks or compromising network infrastructure to intercept banking communications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in public network environments where users may connect to unsecured networks, making it a prime target for cybercriminals. This flaw directly enables attacks categorized under the ATT&CK framework's T1041 technique for Exfiltration Over C2 Channel, as well as T1566 for Phishing, since the compromised communication channels can be used to steal sensitive banking credentials and personal information.
The security implications extend beyond immediate financial theft to include long-term reputation damage for Chase and potential regulatory consequences. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of secure coding practices and inadequate security testing during the application development lifecycle. Organizations implementing similar mobile banking applications must address this issue through proper certificate validation implementation that enforces hostname matching against certificate fields. The fix requires restoring proper X509TrustManager behavior to validate that server certificates contain domain names matching the expected hostname, thereby preventing the acceptance of arbitrary valid certificates that do not correspond to legitimate banking services. This remediation aligns with security standards such as NIST SP 800-57 and OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure mobile application development and SSL/TLS implementation.