CVE-2014-5603 in Remote Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
The DeskRoll Remote Desktop (aka com.deskroll.client1) application 0.6 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 CVE-2014-5603 vulnerability affects the DeskRoll Remote Desktop application version 0.6 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL/TLS certificate verification process. This vulnerability resides in the client-side implementation of the remote desktop solution, where the application fails to properly validate X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during the connection establishment phase. The absence of certificate verification creates a fundamental security weakness that directly violates established cryptographic best practices and industry standards for secure communications.
The technical flaw manifests as a complete breakdown in the certificate validation mechanism within the Android client application. When establishing a secure connection to a remote desktop server, the application should perform rigorous verification of the server's X.509 certificate against trusted certificate authorities and validate certificate properties such as validity periods, subject names, and digital signatures. However, the DeskRoll client neglects this critical step, allowing any malicious actor to present a crafted certificate that appears legitimate to the vulnerable application. This weakness specifically aligns with CWE-295, which addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a classic example of a man-in-the-middle attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to conduct sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks against unsuspecting users of the DeskRoll application. An attacker positioned between the Android client and the target server can intercept and modify communications by presenting a forged certificate that the vulnerable application accepts without question. This allows unauthorized parties to obtain sensitive information transmitted through the remote desktop session, potentially including login credentials, personal data, business information, and other confidential content. The vulnerability undermines the fundamental security guarantees that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, effectively rendering the encryption layer useless for protecting data in transit.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1041, where adversaries can use the compromised connection to establish persistence and maintain access to target systems. The vulnerability also supports T1566, representing a phishing or social engineering attack vector where attackers can exploit the trust relationship between the client and server. Organizations utilizing DeskRoll for remote access operations face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where sensitive data handling occurs. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual users to potentially compromise entire network infrastructures, especially when the remote desktop sessions provide access to internal systems and databases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5603 require immediate action to address the certificate verification deficiency in the affected Android application. The primary remediation involves updating to a newer version of the DeskRoll application that implements proper X.509 certificate validation mechanisms. Security administrators should also consider implementing network-level protections such as certificate pinning, where specific certificate fingerprints are hardcoded into the application to prevent acceptance of unauthorized certificates. Additionally, organizations should deploy network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous certificate behavior and implement proper network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of implementing robust certificate validation processes in mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive data through remote access protocols.