CVE-2014-4903 in Kakao Bingo Garden
Summary
by MITRE
The Kakao Bingo Garden (aka com.mocoga.bingogarden) application 1.0.14 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 • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4903 affects the Kakao Bingo Garden Android application version 1.0.14, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to execute man-in-the-middle attacks against users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's secure communication protocols, undermining the fundamental security assurances that SSL/TLS encryption is designed to provide.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's certificate verification process where it fails to validate the authenticity and integrity of SSL certificates presented by servers. This omission allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and the application's servers. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation in secure communications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 by enabling data interception through compromised network communications. The application's insecure implementation means that any data transmitted over HTTPS connections could be compromised without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential financial fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts within the Bingo Garden application. Attackers could exploit this weakness to capture user credentials, personal information, payment details, and other sensitive data that users might transmit through the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects mobile applications that handle user data and potentially financial transactions, making it attractive to cybercriminals seeking to maximize their attack surface. Users connecting to the application's servers over unsecured networks are especially vulnerable to this attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to perform comprehensive certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authorities, and ensuring proper hostname matching. Security patches should enforce certificate pinning where possible, and the application should implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential man-in-the-middle attacks and establish secure communication protocols that align with industry standards such as those specified in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management. Additionally, the application should be updated to use modern SSL/TLS protocols and cipher suites that provide adequate security against known attack vectors.