CVE-2014-5606 in Where's My Perry? Free
Summary
by MITRE
The Where s My Perry? Free (aka com.disney.WMPLite) application 1.5.1 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.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5606 affects the Where's My Perry? Free application version 1.5.1 for Android devices, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate validation mechanism. This weakness stems from the application's failure to properly verify X.509 certificates presented by SSL servers during secure communications. The absence of certificate verification creates a significant attack surface that enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against users of the application.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's cryptographic implementation where it bypasses the standard certificate chain validation process that should occur when establishing secure connections. X.509 certificates serve as the foundation of trust in SSL/TLS communications by providing identity verification and encryption key exchange. When an application fails to validate these certificates, it essentially trusts any certificate presented by a server regardless of its authenticity or legitimacy. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295 which specifically addresses improper certificate validation in security protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception, as it allows attackers to completely impersonate legitimate servers and establish false trust relationships with users. In the context of the Where's My Perry? application, this means that sensitive user information such as personal data, game progress, or any communication with server-side services could be intercepted or manipulated by attackers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects applications that may handle user credentials, personal information, or financial data, even if the specific application in question appears to be a simple game.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002 which focuses on securing communications channels through proper certificate validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by generating or obtaining fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, thereby allowing them to decrypt and modify communications between the user's device and legitimate servers. The attack vector typically involves intercepting network traffic and presenting a forged certificate that the application accepts without proper verification.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper certificate validation mechanisms within the application. Developers should implement certificate pinning techniques where the application maintains a whitelist of trusted certificates or public keys, ensuring that only certificates from known authorities are accepted. Additionally, the application should enforce standard certificate chain validation procedures that verify certificate signatures, expiration dates, and certificate authority trust relationships. The fix should also include implementing proper error handling for certificate validation failures to prevent the application from proceeding with unverified connections. This vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in mobile applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing during the development lifecycle to prevent such fundamental security flaws from reaching production environments.