CVE-2014-4888 in BattleFriends at Sea GOLD
Summary
by MITRE
The BattleFriends at Sea GOLD (aka com.tequilamobile.warshipslivegold) application 1.1.0 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 • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4888 affects the BattleFriends at Sea GOLD Android application version 1.1.0, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector that undermines the fundamental security assurances provided by secure communication protocols. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's certificate verification mechanism, which is essential for establishing trust between the client application and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper SSL certificate validation within the Android application's network communication layer. When applications fail to verify X.509 certificates, they essentially abandon the cryptographic security measures designed to protect data integrity and authentication. This vulnerability falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of weak cryptographic implementation in mobile applications. The absence of certificate pinning or proper validation routines allows attackers to exploit the trust model by presenting malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise sensitive user data and system integrity. Attackers can intercept communications between the application and its servers, potentially accessing personal information, login credentials, payment details, or other confidential data transmitted through the insecure connection. The vulnerability affects the application's ability to maintain secure communication channels, potentially leading to data breaches, identity theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. This weakness is particularly dangerous in mobile applications where users may be transmitting sensitive information over public networks, making the attack surface more expansive.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves implementing certificate pinning, where the application explicitly trusts specific certificates or certificate authorities rather than accepting any valid certificate from any CA. This solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for data hijacking and addresses the fundamental security flaw by ensuring that only certificates matching predefined trust anchors are accepted. Additionally, developers should implement proper certificate chain validation, utilize secure socket libraries that enforce certificate checking, and regularly update the application to address known cryptographic vulnerabilities. The fix should include comprehensive testing of the certificate validation logic to ensure that all potential attack vectors are properly addressed and that the application maintains secure communication channels under all operational conditions.