CVE-2014-5613 in Able Remote
Summary
by MITRE
The Able Remote (aka com.entertailion.android.remote) application 2.3.6 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 vulnerability described in CVE-2014-5613 affects the Able Remote Android application version 2.3.6, representing a critical security flaw in the application's SSL certificate verification mechanism. This issue falls under the category of insufficient certificate validation, which is a well-documented weakness in mobile applications that handle sensitive data transmission. The application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates from SSL servers creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the security of communications between the mobile device and remote servers.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's improper handling of SSL/TLS certificate validation during network communications. When an Android application establishes secure connections to remote servers, it should validate the server's X.509 certificate against a trusted certificate authority to ensure the authenticity of the server. The Able Remote application bypasses this critical validation step, allowing attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a failure in the application's cryptographic implementation that violates fundamental security principles for secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks that can result in the complete compromise of sensitive information transmitted between the mobile device and servers. Attackers can intercept communications, modify data in transit, and potentially gain access to user credentials, personal information, or other sensitive data that the application handles. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it a preferred target for threat actors seeking to compromise mobile applications. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of communications, potentially violating data protection regulations and exposing users to identity theft or financial fraud.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper SSL certificate validation within the application. Developers must ensure that the application validates server certificates against a trusted certificate store and implements certificate pinning where appropriate to prevent the acceptance of fraudulent certificates. The solution involves updating the application to perform comprehensive certificate validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate chains, and ensuring that certificates are issued by trusted authorities. This remediation aligns with the principles outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project and addresses the ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as SSL inspection and monitoring for suspicious certificate behavior to detect potential exploitation attempts.