CVE-2014-5539 in Michael Baker Federal Credit Union
Summary
by MITRE
The Michael Baker FCU (aka air.com.creditunionhomebanking.mb155) application 1.2.0 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 • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5539 affects the Michael Baker FCU mobile banking application version 1.2.0 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise user data and financial transactions. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should occur during secure socket layer establishment, allowing malicious actors to establish fraudulent connections with the application's backend services.
The technical implementation flaw manifests as a complete absence of certificate pinning or proper validation mechanisms within the Android application's network security configuration. When the application establishes SSL connections to its servers, it fails to perform the essential cryptographic verification steps that would normally confirm the authenticity of the server's certificate against trusted certificate authorities. This omission places the application in direct violation of established security protocols and best practices for mobile banking applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture that undermines the entire SSL/TLS security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly within the financial services sector where mobile banking applications handle sensitive personal and financial information. Attackers can exploit this weakness through man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. This allows them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data including login credentials, account information, transaction details, and personal identification numbers. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through standard network interception tools, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. The vulnerability essentially nullifies the encryption protections that users expect from secure banking applications, leaving their financial data exposed to unauthorized access and potential theft.
Organizations and security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating the application to a version that properly implements certificate validation, deploying network monitoring solutions to detect potential attacks, and establishing certificate pinning mechanisms where possible. The application should be redesigned to incorporate proper SSL/TLS certificate validation using established libraries and frameworks that enforce certificate chain verification against trusted root authorities. Security measures should also include implementing certificate transparency protocols and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing and credential theft through man-in-the-middle attacks, emphasizing the need for robust certificate validation in mobile applications handling sensitive data.