CVE-2014-5574 in Ask.fm-social Q
Summary
by MITRE
The Ask.fm - Social Q&A Network (aka com.askfm) application 1.2.4 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 • 08/25/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-5574 represents a critical security flaw in the Ask.fm Android application version 1.2.4, where the software fails to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications. This deficiency creates a significant attack surface that enables man-in-the-middle adversaries to intercept and manipulate encrypted data transmissions between the mobile application and its remote servers. The vulnerability specifically affects the certificate verification process, which is fundamental to establishing secure communications over the internet. When an application does not verify server certificates, it essentially removes one of the primary security mechanisms designed to protect against unauthorized access and data interception. The flaw allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, thereby bypassing the security measures intended to protect user data and privacy. This vulnerability directly violates the core principles of secure communication protocols and undermines the trust model that SSL/TLS is designed to establish. The impact extends beyond simple data interception to potentially enable complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to user accounts, as the application cannot distinguish between legitimate and malicious server endpoints.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper SSL certificate validation within the Android application's networking stack. The application fails to perform certificate chain validation, hostname verification, or trust store checking that are standard requirements for secure SSL connections. This represents a classic example of insecure cryptographic implementation where the software relies on default SSL handling that accepts any certificate without proper validation. The flaw can be categorized under CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in cryptographic implementations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by setting up malicious SSL servers that present certificates signed by untrusted authorities or by using certificate pinning bypass techniques that would normally be prevented by proper certificate validation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in public Wi-Fi environments where attackers have greater opportunities to intercept and manipulate network traffic, as the application's lack of certificate verification removes any protection against such scenarios. This type of vulnerability is commonly exploited in attacks targeting mobile applications where the user's trust in the application's security is paramount.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5574 extends far beyond the immediate risk of data interception, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of the Ask.fm application and its users. Mobile users who rely on the application for social networking and personal communication face potential exposure of their private questions, answers, and personal information to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability enables attackers to not only read sensitive data but also to modify communications, potentially injecting malicious content or redirecting users to fraudulent endpoints. This type of attack aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1041 technique for Data Obfuscation and T1566 for Phishing, as the vulnerability creates an environment where such attacks can succeed. The compromised application can serve as a gateway for more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, session hijacking, and further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected application version regardless of their security awareness, as the flaw exists in the application code itself rather than requiring specific user actions to exploit. Organizations using this application would face potential compliance violations with data protection regulations, as the vulnerability creates a pathway for unauthorized access to personal information. The risk is particularly elevated for users in regions with less robust cybersecurity infrastructure where such attacks are more prevalent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5574 require both immediate application-level fixes and broader security improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary solution involves implementing proper SSL certificate validation within the application's networking code, ensuring that all certificates are verified against trusted certificate authorities and that hostname validation is performed. This includes implementing certificate pinning where appropriate and ensuring that the application maintains an up-to-date trust store with valid root certificates. Security patches should be deployed immediately to address the vulnerability, with the application version being updated to include proper certificate validation mechanisms. Network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should also include proper error handling for certificate validation failures, ensuring that the application terminates connections when certificate validation fails rather than proceeding with potentially compromised communications. Organizations should also implement security testing procedures including SSL certificate validation testing as part of their mobile application security assessments. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, which emphasizes the need for proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar validation flaws in other networked applications and services.