CVE-2014-5541 in Hidden Memory Aladdin Free
Summary
by MITRE
The Hidden Memory - Aladdin FREE! (aka air.com.differencegames.hmaladdinfree) application 1.0.31 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-2014-5541 affects the Hidden Memory - Aladdin FREE! Android application version 1.0.31, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate verification mechanisms. This weakness falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors who wish to intercept or manipulate data transmitted between the mobile application and remote servers.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's failure to perform adequate certificate chain validation and hostname verification during SSL handshakes. When an Android application establishes secure connections to web services, it should verify that the server's certificate is issued by a trusted certificate authority and that the certificate's subject matches the hostname being accessed. This specific vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, thereby bypassing the security measures designed to protect user data. The absence of proper certificate pinning or validation mechanisms leaves the application susceptible to cryptographic attacks that would normally be prevented by standard SSL/TLS implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to obtain sensitive information through crafted malicious certificates. Mobile applications that communicate with backend services, particularly those handling user credentials, personal data, or financial information, become vulnerable to data exfiltration and session hijacking attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to decrypt and modify communications, potentially gaining access to user accounts, personal information, or other sensitive data that the application is designed to protect. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where applications often handle highly sensitive user information and operate in potentially untrusted network conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5541 should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the Android application. Security practitioners should enforce certificate pinning to ensure that the application only accepts certificates from specific trusted authorities or specific certificate fingerprints. The implementation should follow industry best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project recommendations for secure communication. Additionally, developers should implement certificate validation checks that verify both the certificate chain and hostname matching, ensuring that certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities and that the certificate's subject matches the target server's hostname. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in mobile application development and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041 which covers data compression and encryption techniques used to evade detection during network communications. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential man-in-the-middle attacks targeting vulnerable applications.