CVE-2014-5642 in IMPI Mobile Security
Summary
by MITRE
The IMPI Mobile Security (aka com.impi) application 2.1.0 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-2014-5642 resides within the IMPI Mobile Security application version 2.1.0 for Android platforms, representing a critical flaw in the application's cryptographic security implementation. This vulnerability directly impacts the application's ability to establish secure communications with remote servers through the Transport Layer Security protocol. The flaw manifests as a complete absence of X.509 certificate verification mechanisms within the application's SSL/TLS handshake process, creating a fundamental security gap that undermines the entire secure communication framework.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the scope of CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation" in security systems. The application fails to perform essential certificate validation checks including hostname verification, certificate chain validation, and trust anchor verification that are fundamental requirements for establishing secure SSL connections. This omission allows attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the mobile application and remote servers, enabling them to present maliciously crafted certificates that the application will accept without proper scrutiny. The vulnerability essentially removes the cryptographic assurances that SSL/TLS protocols are designed to provide, leaving users exposed to various forms of man-in-the-middle attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly given the nature of mobile security applications that typically handle sensitive user data and system access credentials. An attacker positioned within the network traffic path can intercept communications between the IMPI Mobile Security application and its backend servers, presenting forged certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application. This enables the attacker to decrypt and manipulate sensitive information flowing through the application, potentially gaining access to user credentials, personal data, or system configuration details. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed without requiring any special privileges or advanced technical skills, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors.
The implications extend beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized access to protected resources. Mobile security applications often serve as gateways to enterprise systems, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges. The vulnerability creates a trust boundary that can be easily compromised, allowing attackers to establish false identities and potentially gain access to additional systems or data that the application might control or monitor. This represents a significant deviation from the expected security posture that users rely upon when installing security applications designed to protect their mobile devices and data.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and prevent future occurrences in similar applications. The primary remediation involves implementing proper X.509 certificate validation within the application's SSL/TLS implementation, including certificate chain validation, hostname checking, and trust anchor verification. Security developers should utilize established cryptographic libraries and frameworks that provide robust certificate validation capabilities rather than implementing custom validation logic that may contain similar flaws. The implementation should align with industry best practices and security standards such as those outlined in the NIST SP 800-57 recommendations for cryptographic key management and certificate validation. Organizations using this application should immediately update to a version that addresses the certificate validation issue, and security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of similar mobile applications within their environment to identify and remediate comparable weaknesses. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper security testing procedures including penetration testing and code review processes that specifically examine cryptographic implementation details to prevent such critical flaws from reaching production environments.