CVE-2014-5545 in Sprint jump
Summary
by MITRE
The Sprint jump (aka air.com.ilaz.appilas) application 1 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 • 08/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5545 affects the Sprint jump application version 1 for Android, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This weakness resides in the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle exploitation techniques. The vulnerability specifically targets the certificate verification process that should normally validate the authenticity and integrity of SSL connections between mobile applications and remote servers. When an application fails to verify SSL certificates, it essentially removes the cryptographic protection that ensures secure communication channels between the client and server components.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation routines within the Android platform's security framework. This issue falls under CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's secure communication protocols. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting crafted certificates that the application accepts without proper validation. This occurs because the application bypasses the standard certificate chain validation process that would normally verify certificate authorities, expiration dates, and proper cryptographic signatures that ensure server authenticity.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for users of the Sprint jump application, as it enables attackers to intercept and potentially modify all data transmitted between the application and its backend servers. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential session hijacking, credential compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive user information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish fake server endpoints that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to capture login credentials, personal data, financial information, and other confidential communications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the transport layer security level, affecting all communication channels within the application that rely on SSL/TLS encryption.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1041, which covers "Exfiltration Over C2 Channel," and T1566, which addresses "Phishing for Information." The lack of certificate verification essentially removes the cryptographic protection that prevents attackers from establishing trusted communication channels, making it possible for adversaries to impersonate legitimate services and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Organizations and users should immediately implement mitigations including certificate pinning, updating to patched versions of the application, and implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious certificate behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper SSL/TLS implementation in mobile applications and highlights the necessity of following security best practices outlined in industry standards such as NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and validation.