CVE-2014-5546 in Africa Memory
Summary
by MITRE
The Africa Memory (aka air.com.klon4enabor4e.AfricaMemory) application 1.0.1 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 described in CVE-2014-5546 represents a critical security flaw in the Africa Memory Android application version 1.0.1, which falls under the category of improper certificate validation within secure communication protocols. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack vector for malicious actors seeking to intercept or manipulate data transmission between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data exchanged through the application, as it allows attackers to establish fraudulent secure connections without proper authentication.
From a technical perspective, the flaw manifests as a failure in the certificate verification process that should normally validate the authenticity of SSL/TLS server certificates against trusted certificate authorities. When an application does not perform proper X.509 certificate validation, it essentially trusts any certificate presented by a server regardless of its legitimacy or chain of trust. This weakness enables man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can generate and present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby allowing them to decrypt and potentially modify communications between the mobile device and target servers. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in cryptographic implementation according to CWE-310 and represents a failure in secure communication protocol handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it can lead to comprehensive compromise of user data and system integrity. Mobile applications that fail to validate SSL certificates create an environment where sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, financial information, and private communications can be accessed by unauthorized parties. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform session hijacking, steal authentication tokens, or inject malicious content into the application's communication channels. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where applications often handle sensitive personal and financial data, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit mobile application security gaps.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough certificate chain validation against trusted certificate authorities, implement certificate pinning where appropriate, and avoid using default or insecure SSL configurations. The fix should include proper error handling for certificate validation failures and implement robust certificate trust management. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and NIST guidelines for mobile application security. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of cryptographic best practices in mobile application development and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks that persist across multiple user interactions.