CVE-2014-5595 in actionpuzzlefamily for Kakao
Summary
by MITRE
The actionpuzzlefamily for Kakao (aka com.com2us.actionpuzzlefamily.kakao.freefull.google.global.android.common) application 1.4.3 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-2014-5595 represents a critical security flaw in the actionpuzzlefamily application for Kakao, version 1.4.3, running on Android platforms. This issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates during SSL/TLS communications, creating a significant attack surface that exposes users to sophisticated man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's secure communication implementation, where it accepts any certificate without proper verification, undermining the fundamental security guarantees that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide.
This technical flaw falls under the category of improper certificate validation, which is classified as CWE-295 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The application's insecure implementation allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the client application, enabling them to intercept, modify, or steal sensitive data transmitted between the mobile application and its remote servers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core security mechanism that protects user data, including personal information, login credentials, and potentially financial transactions if the application handles such data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it creates opportunities for attackers to conduct sophisticated attacks that can compromise user accounts, steal session tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as attackers can leverage the insecure SSL implementation to establish false server identities and trick users into providing sensitive information. The attack vector is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may connect to public Wi-Fi networks, increasing the likelihood of successful MITM attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers must ensure that the application validates certificate chains against trusted Certificate Authorities and implements certificate pinning where appropriate to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates. Security measures should include implementing certificate verification routines that check certificate expiration dates, validate certificate signatures, and ensure that certificates are issued for the expected domain names. Additionally, the application should be updated to use secure communication protocols that enforce certificate validation and implement proper error handling when certificate validation fails, as outlined in industry best practices for mobile application security and SSL/TLS implementation standards.