CVE-2014-5553 in Kids Preschool Learning Games
Summary
by MITRE
The Kids Preschool Learning Games (aka air.com.tribalnova.ilearnwith.ipad.App3En) application 1.3.2 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5553 affects the Kids Preschool Learning Games application version 1.3.2 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's secure communication implementation. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant pathway for malicious actors to compromise the application's security posture. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish trust with remote servers, fundamentally undermining the integrity of encrypted communications between the mobile device and backend services.
The technical flaw stems from the application's implementation of SSL/TLS certificate validation, where the software fails to perform proper certificate chain verification and trust assessment. This weakness allows attackers to execute man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. The absence of certificate pinning or proper certificate validation mechanisms means that the application accepts any certificate presented by a server, regardless of its authenticity or trustworthiness. This behavior aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's cryptographic implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it enables attackers to gain access to sensitive user information that may be transmitted through the application's communication channels. Mobile applications that collect personal data, user preferences, or educational content from children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, as they often handle data that could be used for identity theft, targeted advertising, or other malicious purposes. The vulnerability is especially concerning in educational applications designed for young children, where privacy and data protection are paramount considerations. Attackers could potentially intercept user credentials, personal learning data, or other sensitive information that the application processes or stores.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1041, which involves data from network connections, and T1566, which covers credential harvesting through spearphishing. The attack surface is particularly broad given that the application operates on mobile devices that frequently connect to various networks, including public wifi hotspots where man-in-the-middle attacks are more easily executed. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for widespread use. Organizations and developers should recognize that this type of vulnerability represents a failure in secure coding practices and demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper cryptographic security measures in mobile applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing proper certificate validation mechanisms, including certificate pinning to specific trusted authorities, and ensuring that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough certificate chain validation. Developers should also consider implementing additional security layers such as certificate transparency checks and regular security audits of cryptographic implementations. The application should be updated to include proper certificate verification routines that align with industry standards for mobile application security. Organizations deploying such educational applications should conduct thorough security assessments and ensure that all third-party libraries and components used in the application implement proper certificate validation. This vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding guidelines and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect user data in mobile applications, particularly those targeting vulnerable populations such as children in educational environments.