CVE-2014-5635 in Buy Yorkshire Conference
Summary
by MITRE
The Buy Yorkshire Conference (aka com.gotfocus.buyyorkshire) application 1.4 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 • 08/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5635 affects the Buy Yorkshire Conference Android application version 1.4, specifically targeting its secure communication implementation. This represents a critical flaw in the application's cryptographic security measures that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of data transmitted between the mobile client and remote servers. The application's failure to properly validate SSL/TLS certificates creates a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise the security of user communications.
This vulnerability stems from improper certificate validation mechanisms within the application's network security implementation. The software does not perform adequate X.509 certificate verification, which is a fundamental requirement for establishing trust in secure communications. According to CWE-295, this weakness falls under "Improper Certificate Validation" where the application fails to properly validate the authenticity and trustworthiness of SSL certificates presented by servers. The flaw allows attackers to present fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the application, bypassing the essential security checks that should prevent such deception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications between the Android application and its backend services. Attackers can craft malicious certificates that the application accepts as legitimate, allowing them to eavesdrop on sensitive information exchanges including user credentials, personal data, and potentially financial transactions. This vulnerability specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1573.002, which describes "Encrypted Channel" attacks where adversaries establish secure communication channels to evade detection while conducting malicious activities.
The consequences extend beyond simple data interception to include potential data manipulation and unauthorized access to application features. Users of the Buy Yorkshire Conference application may unknowingly transmit sensitive information to attacker-controlled servers, believing they are communicating with legitimate service providers. This vulnerability particularly affects applications that handle personal information, authentication credentials, or transactional data, making it a serious concern for user privacy and data protection. The lack of certificate verification essentially removes the cryptographic assurance that secure communications should provide, leaving users exposed to various forms of cyber attacks including credential theft and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper SSL certificate validation mechanisms. The application must be updated to perform comprehensive certificate chain validation, including checking certificate expiration dates, verifying certificate authorities, and ensuring proper hostname matching. Security patches should implement certificate pinning where appropriate, and the application should reject any connections that do not meet established security criteria. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous certificate behavior and establish proper security auditing procedures to prevent similar issues in future releases. This vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks that mandate proper cryptographic implementation and validation.