CVE-2014-5542 in Hidden Object Mystery
Summary
by MITRE
The Hidden Object Mystery (aka air.com.differencegames.hodetectivemysteryfree) application 1.0.65 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-2014-5542 affects the Hidden Object Mystery Android application version 1.0.65, representing a critical security flaw in the application's handling of secure communications. This issue 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 integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically impacts the application's ability to establish trust with legitimate servers, effectively undermining the fundamental security mechanisms designed to protect data transmission between mobile clients and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's certificate verification process, where the Android application fails to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification. This weakness allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The implementation lacks proper certificate pinning mechanisms and relies solely on the default Android trust store without additional verification layers. According to CWE-295, this represents a weakness in certificate validation where the application does not properly validate the certificate chain or verify the certificate's trustworthiness against established authorities. The vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002, which describes the use of unencrypted or weakly encrypted communications to capture and manipulate data in transit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to gain access to sensitive user information that may include personal data, account credentials, or other confidential information transmitted through the application's secure channels. Mobile applications that handle user authentication, payment information, or personal data are particularly at risk when they fail to implement proper SSL certificate validation. The vulnerability affects the application's security posture by creating a trust relationship that can be easily compromised, potentially allowing attackers to redirect traffic to malicious servers while maintaining the illusion of secure communication. This flaw essentially renders the application's secure communication layer ineffective against determined adversaries who can exploit the missing certificate validation to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques to ensure that the application only accepts certificates from trusted authorities or specific certificate authorities. The application should validate certificate chains against multiple trust sources and implement proper error handling for certificate validation failures. According to industry best practices and security frameworks, applications should avoid using the default Android trust store without additional verification mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate certificate manipulation attempts. The fix requires comprehensive testing of the certificate validation logic and ensuring that the application properly handles certificate validation errors by terminating connections rather than proceeding with potentially compromised communications. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper SSL/TLS implementation in mobile applications and the necessity of following established security guidelines to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.