CVE-2014-5590 in Snake Evolution
Summary
by MITRE
The Snake Evolution (aka com.btwgames.snake) application 1.3.1 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 • 08/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5590 affects the Snake Evolution Android application version 1.3.1, specifically targeting its implementation of secure communication protocols. This weakness resides in the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS connections, creating a critical security gap that exposes users to sophisticated cyber threats. The issue demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's cryptographic security architecture, where the absence of proper certificate verification undermines the entire SSL/TLS security model designed to protect data integrity and confidentiality.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of certificate pinning and validation mechanisms within the application's network communication layer. When the Snake Evolution application establishes connections to remote servers, it fails to perform essential certificate verification steps that should confirm the authenticity of the server's identity. This absence allows attackers to implement man-in-the-middle attacks by presenting fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. The vulnerability specifically targets the SSL/TLS handshake process where certificate validation should occur, but instead the application accepts any certificate presented without proper cryptographic verification.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for user data protection and privacy. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and manipulate communications between the infected application and its backend servers, potentially gaining access to sensitive user information including personal data, login credentials, or transaction details. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to potential account takeovers, financial fraud, and unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability affects all users of the specific application version and remains exploitable until proper certificate validation mechanisms are implemented.
The security implications align with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1041 where adversaries use man-in-the-middle attacks to intercept network traffic. Organizations and users should immediately update to patched versions of the application or implement network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Recommended mitigations include implementing proper certificate pinning, using secure certificate validation libraries, and conducting regular security assessments of mobile applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-52 for certificate management and validation in mobile applications.