CVE-2014-5556 in Fly Fishing! Fly Tying
Summary
by MITRE
The Fly Fishing & Fly Tying (aka air.com.yudu.ReaderAIR3209899) application 3.21.0 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-2014-5556 resides within the Fly Fishing & Fly Tying application version 3.21.0 for Android platforms, representing a critical security flaw in the application's cryptographic implementation. This issue manifests as a failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the integrity of communications between the mobile application and remote servers. The vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish secure connections, fundamentally undermining the trust model that secure communications rely upon.
The technical flaw stems from the application's implementation of SSL/TLS certificate verification, where the software fails to perform proper certificate chain validation and hostname checking. This weakness allows attackers to present malicious certificates that appear legitimate to the application, enabling them to intercept and manipulate data transmitted between the mobile device and targeted servers. The vulnerability specifically affects the certificate validation process, which should normally verify certificate authenticity through trusted certificate authorities and validate that the certificate is issued for the correct hostname. Without this validation, the application accepts any certificate presented, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks that can capture sensitive user data, session tokens, or other confidential information transmitted over the network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of users who rely on the application for their fly fishing and fly tying activities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to user credentials, personal information, or any data transmitted through the application's network communications. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version, creating a widespread security risk that persists until the issue is addressed through proper certificate validation implementation. Mobile users become particularly vulnerable when connecting to networks that may be compromised, as the application provides no protection against malicious actors who can establish fake servers or intercept communications through network-based attacks.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be implemented in all mobile applications handling sensitive user data. The flaw also corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1041 technique for Data from Network Shared Drive, as the compromised application can facilitate unauthorized access to network resources through manipulated communications. Organizations and developers should implement proper certificate pinning mechanisms, utilize trusted certificate authorities, and ensure that all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough validation of certificate chains and hostname verification. The recommended mitigation involves updating the application to include proper X.509 certificate validation, implementing certificate pinning where appropriate, and ensuring that all network communications validate certificate authenticity through established security protocols. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid using the vulnerable application on untrusted networks and to ensure they are using updated versions that address this security weakness.