CVE-2014-5592 in Free Dating Heart COL
Summary
by MITRE
The Free Dating Heart COL (aka com.choiceoflove.dating) application 2.6.1 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-2014-5592 affects the Free Dating Heart COL Android application version 2.6.1, representing a critical security flaw in the application's implementation of secure communication protocols. This issue falls under the category of insufficient certificate verification within the application's SSL/TLS handling mechanisms, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to compromise user data integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers, which is a fundamental security control in establishing trust between client and server communications.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's inability to perform proper certificate chain validation and trust verification processes that are standard requirements for secure network communications. When the application establishes SSL connections to backend servers, it accepts any certificate presented without verifying its authenticity through trusted certificate authorities or checking for proper certificate signatures and validity periods. This weakness directly violates established security practices outlined in industry standards such as CWE-295, which specifically addresses issues related to improper certificate validation. The flaw essentially creates a trust relationship that can be easily manipulated by attackers who can present forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application.
Operationally, this vulnerability exposes users to significant risks including man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can intercept and modify communications between the application and its servers. An attacker positioned between the user's device and the server can present a malicious certificate that the application accepts without question, allowing them to decrypt and potentially alter sensitive user information such as personal profiles, messaging content, contact details, and potentially financial information if the application handles payments. The impact extends beyond simple data interception to include potential account compromise and identity theft, as the application may be transmitting authentication tokens or session identifiers that could be captured and reused by attackers. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in the context of dating applications where users often share highly personal information and intimate communications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1573 technique for "Tunneling" and T1041 for "Exfiltration." Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to user accounts and extract sensitive data from the application's backend systems. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper certificate pinning mechanisms, ensuring that the application validates certificate chains against trusted root authorities, and incorporating revocation checking through CRL or OCSP protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing certificate transparency monitoring and regular security assessments to identify similar issues in other mobile applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of following established security frameworks such as those defined by NIST and OWASP to prevent similar issues in mobile application development.